Multicultural Affairs Minister Stirling Hinchliffe will join thousands of people at tonight’s Luminous Lantern Parade at Brisbane’s South Bank to celebrate and welcome people from all over the world who now call Queensland home.
Mr Hinchliffe said the lantern parade celebrates the strength of our cultural diversity and helps to create a harmonious and welcoming Queensland.
“Light from the giant lanterns and lamps in the parade, as well as thousands of LED candles in the crowd, is a symbolic of lighting the way forward to a welcoming and harmonious community,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“Thousands of people are expected to take part in this uniquely Queensland-style welcome event, and this is your chance to come along and show the type of welcoming Queensland society we all want.
“The Palaszczuk Government is pleased to support this event through the Premier’s Queensland Day fund as well as the Celebrating Multicultural Queensland program.”
The Multicultural Development Australia (MDA) Luminous Lantern Parade will feature large lanterns in the shape of iconic Brisbane Landmarks and animals, with thousands of lamps to be distributed for parade participants to carry.
MDA’s CEO Kerrin Benson said the parade is one of the largest public statements of welcome, where our Queensland community stand together to give the warmest of welcomes to people that have recently arrived and now call Queensland home.
“LUMINOUS helps new Queenslanders feel a sense of inclusion and belonging, while celebrating the rich cultural contributions of our diverse communities. The parade also coincides with Queensland Day and is a wonderful way of celebrating Queensland’s birthday on 6 June and its official separation from NSW in 1859.
“Hundreds of colourful lanterns will shine across the Brisbane skyline and shed light on creating a brighter future for newly arrived communities of refugees, migrants, people seeking asylum and international students.”
