BARRY O’FARRELL: AUSTRALIA DAY STATEMENT

25 January 2012

Australia Day is a time to honour our past and consider what we want for our future. It is also time to cherish our strengths.

The Australian character is the sum of 23 million unique living stories.

Our stories draw on our individual ancestries, whether original inhabitants of this land, Australian born or overseas born.

I am proud to lead a state which boasts 200 languages and 200 countries of origin amongst its population.

In New South Wales, multiculturalism is our way of life and one of our greatest assets.

We embrace our opportunities. We consistently make a success of welcoming hard working immigrants. We recognise and respect our first people for their connection to this land and the wisdom which they have shared.

In 2012, I am confident we will continue to draw on our can-do approach and the strengths of our communities to make their most of our potential as a State.

(You can read this article in the Arabic Section)