I send my best wishes to all Australians celebrating Lunar New Year today and over the coming days.
Lunar New Year has been celebrated in Australia since the 1800s. It has grown to become an important day in our calendar with many communities celebrating it in different ways.
What unites all celebrations is the joy of friends, families and the wider community coming together in a vibrant and colourful testament to the success of Australian multiculturalism.
We can all embrace the spirit of renewal, optimism and inclusion that Lunar New Year festivities bring. In Australia, Lunar New Year also offers an opportunity to reflect on just how much our diversity has enriched our society and way of life.
I encourage everyone to come together at the New Year and celebrate the shared values that unite us all. Values such as respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual, commitment to the rule of law, and equality of opportunity for all – in turn allowing us to reflect on why Australia is the most successful multicultural nation in the world.
This year, we celebrate the Year of the Tiger – a time for optimism, boundless energy, and growth. The tiger’s courage and tenacity makes it an apt animal for 2022, as we continue to secure Australia’s economic recovery from the pandemic.
This Lunar New Year, I hope you are able to safely reunite with family and friends to celebrate the Year of the Tiger.
Thank you, and I wish you all a happy, safe and prosperous new year.
