Thursday, 7 March 2024

 Samantha RATNAM (Northern Metropolitan) (10:12): Tashi delek. Happy Losar. It was a privilege to attend along with my colleagues Tim Read and Aiv Puglielli the first Tibetan New Year festival hosted in the Victorian Parliament over the last week. Thank you to my colleague Sam Hibbins and his team for supporting the Tibetan Community of Australia Victoria association to bring such a joyous celebration of Losar into this place. Our Parliament looks the best when the community is here, and the Tibetan community transformed Queen’s Hall into a shrine of devotion and transported us all to the lush mountains of Tibet, where these celebrations would ordinarily take place. The community adorned the event with ancient artwork, song, dance and food and gave us a glimpse into the compassionate and kind culture of the Tibetan people.

The Tibetan people continue to struggle for self-determination and the survival of their culture, traditions, language and identity, given the oppression they continue to face. Despite this adversity, they continue to embody one of the greatest characteristics of the human spirit, and that is kindness. In his new year’s address His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke of the importance of continuing to cultivate love and compassion in the world as well as good-heartedness and morality. Tibetan culture, he said, is the world’s precious treasure, and the courage and determination of the Tibetan people is truly Victoria’s treasure. We stand with you, we send our love and solidarity to all Tibetans and we remember especially this year the Dalai Lama’s words: peace in the world begins with kindness in the heart.