Ballarat citizenship ceremony
Joe McCRACKEN (Western Victoria) (14:03): I also want to acknowledge the citizenship ceremony I went to last week for the City of Ballarat. There were 77 new citizens to Australia, and I think it is just absolutely awesome. They come from all different parts of the world, and they are making a fantastic contribution to Ballarat. It is another example of the celebration of the multicultural community we have in Ballarat. Sadly, I was the only state MP there. It was great to meet and mingle with all the different new Australians. I also want to pay tribute to Des Hudson, the mayor of Ballarat, and Peter Eddy, the newly elected deputy mayor of Ballarat, on conducting the ceremonies.