“Australia has a long history of multiculturalism,” she said during a visit to Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque.
She added that Australia has people from every single country in the world and belonging to many different religions, describing it as a very successful multicultural country.
This achievement, she highlighted, is not by accident. The country has put real effort into ensuring that there is respect for everybody.
“It doesn’t matter where you come from, it doesn’t matter where you were born, it doesn’t matter where your parents were born,” she added.
Aly is an Australian citizen of Egyptian descent. She was born in Egypt and her first language is Arabic.
“My family came to Australia from Egypt when I was two years old. Two years old. Just two years old. And even as somebody who has come from overseas, who was born in Egypt and who is Muslim, I have become a member of the government and a minister in the Cabinet,” she said.
She added that in Australia, multiculturalism is about everybody getting the same opportunities. “That where you come from, where your parents come from, isn’t a barrier. It doesn’t stop you from achieving even the highest level of office in Australia,” she explained.
During her visit to the Istiqlal Mosque, Aly, accompanied by the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Rod Brazier, handed over a collection of Australian books for the Australian Reading Corner at the Istiqlal Mosque Library in Jakarta.
The handover was carried out as part of Australia’s efforts to support interfaith relations with Indonesia and increase cross-cultural understanding through the handover of hundreds of Australian book collections.
During her visit to the mosque, Aly also chatted with children from the Istiqlal Mosque Madrasah, played bedug (a traditional musical instrument), and visited the Silaturahmi Tunnel connecting Istiqlal Mosque and Jakarta Cathedral Church, which was built to represent the harmony between religious communities in Indonesia.
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Translator: Katriana
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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