Greenvale electorate Syrian community
Iwan WALTERS (Greenvale) (10:03): Greenvale is home to people from a diverse array of cultural, linguistic and religious backgrounds. Many have suffered persecution but with extraordinary resilience have found themselves safety and rebuilt new homes and lives in our community here in Melbourne. But these experiences make the ongoing crisis in Syria deeply personal and traumatic for many in my community. As the Prime Minister has said, Australia condemns the murder of innocent civilians and demands that all minorities must be protected. I know that many Syrian Australians in my community are anguished by the events taking place in Syria. Their resilience is a testament to the strength of our community, their voices a reminder of the lasting impact of conflict and displacement, and I stand with them in calling for a just and lasting peace that respects the fundamental freedoms and human rights of all Syrians.