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| “It is absolutely proof that the human spirit can truly survive anything.” – Ali France MP |
** “We are not going to leave the next generation behind.” – Tony Burke MP
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Burke dinner draws full house as speakers highlight resilience, unity and reform
“Everyone here represents our diverse community; a rich cultural and religious tapestry.” – Sophie Cotsis MP
30/05/2026
(See translation in Arabic section)
Sydney-Middle East Times Int'l: Tony Burke, the federal member for Watson and Minister for Home Affairs, Immigration, Citizenship, the Arts and Cyber Security, hosted his annual dinner at The Grand Roxy in Brighton Le Sands, with the NSW Member for Canterbury Sophie Cotsis acting as master of ceremonies. The event drew a full house, bringing together ministers, MPs, councillors, and union and party representatives alongside leaders from cultural organisations, business figures, professionals, and media. Among the high profile guests were Ali France, the newly elected member for Dixon in Queensland, and Bondi shooting hero Mr Ahmed Al Ahmed.
SOPHIE COTSIS MP delivered a warm and spirited introduction, telling attendees, “you filled the Grand Roxy to capacity. We’ve never seen the Grand Roxy so full,” praising the crowd’s energy and unity. She recalled years of political support, saying “we stood up for you and cheered you on,” adding “our community doesn’t forget. We are forgiving, but we don’t forget.” She described the gathering as a reflection of “resilience and determination” and “a moment that is completely inspiring.”
Turning to Mr Burke, Ms Cotsis offered effusive praise, declaring “we love you, Tony Burke, workaholic,” and describing him as “someone who combines integrity, experience, and passion in everything he does.” She noted their long association, saying “I have known Tony since I was 19 or 20,” and credited decades of work to building strong community connections and “turning areas into Labor strongholds.”
She highlighted his ministerial record, calling him “a tireless advocate” who has been “at the forefront of the fight to alleviate cost of living pressures.” She added that “he led the campaign for higher wages,” noting that people regularly “stop me… and thank Tony for the work he’s done.” She also pointed to major investments and his work to make “medicines more affordable,” while praising his stance as “a strong, principled voice… against hate, division, and intolerance.”
Closing her remarks, Ms Cotsis celebrated the diversity of the audience, saying “everyone here represents our diverse community,” a “rich cultural and religious tapestry.” She concluded that Mr Burke’s work “gives our people hope for the future.”
TONY BURKE
Mr Burke then delivered a wide ranging and deeply personal address, blending policy, reflection, and gratitude. Opening with thanks, he told the audience “how much it means to have so many of you here,” joking that what organisers described as a “problem” was actually “more than the capacity of the room.”
He explained that this year’s event marked a change in format, noting that after more than 20 dinners, “every other time I’ve had somebody… on the front bench or a former Premier,” but “tonight… I’ve asked a brand new member.” Referring to Ms France’s win in Dixon, he said many had focused on defeating an opponent, but the real story was “the extraordinary person we’ve elected,” someone who “brings together every value and principle that you would want a Labor government to have.”
Reflecting on what he called “the fourth anniversary of the Albanese government,” Mr Burke said “we have made some massive changes to Australia,” creating “a real layer of opportunity” for those doing it toughest.
He highlighted workplace reform as a central achievement, noting “wages have flatlined for a decade,” but “wages are now moving.” He pointed to strengthened agreements and worker protections, saying “thousands upon thousands… now have rights.”
Mr Burke linked these reforms to broader social change, including measures addressing domestic and family violence. He explained that visas were now being cancelled where “it is clear that there’s been coercive control,” describing reforms such as “10 days’ paid family and domestic violence leave” as providing “space… for people… to protect themselves,” even when their stories “don’t make the headlines.”
Turning to the broader political climate, Mr Burke warned that “what’s happening… right now… is really ugly,” describing “an increased layer of hatred.” He stressed that prejudice often targets people “because of who you are,” and insisted that the response must be to “keep to our values.” He added, “we’re not giving ground on modern Australia… people have a right to live free from bigotry.”
He spoke candidly about the emotional toll of his role, saying “I take the job really personally,” recalling past tragedies and acknowledging more recent failures to keep people safe. In that context, he paid tribute to Mr Al Ahmed, telling him, “you protected people that day,” adding that the national conversation “would have been horrifically worse without you.”
Mr Burke also acknowledged the role of business and community leaders, saying “it’s not simply appreciated what you do,” but also the values that guide their work. Drawing on his upbringing, he spoke of the importance of service, responsibility, and community contribution.
On international issues, he noted ongoing conflicts, stating “I am stunned… Palestine is in the situation that it’s in,” while acknowledging that for many, global events are experienced “through the lens of family.” He said these perspectives inform his work, assuring the audience that “you provide a lens for me.”
Domestically, Mr Burke framed housing as “a fight,” warning that he did not want “a country where the next generation have to wait for an inheritance.” He stressed, “we cannot leave a generation behind… we are not going to let it happen,” while acknowledging that reform would be contested.
Reflecting on his own political journey, he told the audience, “I really needed help” at the last election, adding, “you came in behind me when I needed you most, and I will never forget it.” He emphasised that politics is “not about a career… it’s about changing lives… making a nation a fairer place.”
He concluded with a contrast between opposition and government: “I had nine years… to stop a bad thing… now our job is to make good things happen,” crediting the audience with providing both “the capacity… and the inspiration.”
MS FRANCE MP
Ms France closed the evening with a deeply personal and moving speech centred on resilience, loss, and shared effort.
She began by thanking supporters, saying “thank every one of you… who cheered the Dickson campaign on,” adding “we absolutely felt the love.” Rejecting individual credit, she said, “I never see it as me winning… it was a huge community effort… you did that.”
Ms France also paid tribute to Mr Burke as “kind of like the Obi Wan Kenobi of the Federal Parliament… a mentor,” and praised the audience, noting “there are some incredible people in this room.” She honoured Mr Al Ahmed, saying she was “in awe of your bravery… and your community spirit.”
Ms France then reflected on her identity, saying, “I stand here tonight as a single mother, a disabled woman… a unionist… a mum who lost her teenage son.” She described her life as “a very human story… proof that the human spirit can truly survive anything.”
She spoke about the barriers faced by people with disability, noting that “political parties and workplaces… are difficult places… and they shouldn’t be,” pointing to “unconscious bias… and low expectations.” Recounting the loss of her leg, she said she later faced being told “I would never walk again… never work again,” but responded with “a big yeah and nah to all of those low expectations.”
Her experiences in the workforce included discrimination, recalling that an employer once told her she should be paid less. “He would never have tried… if I wasn’t working in a wheelchair,” she said.
Ms France explained that these experiences drove her into politics, arguing that representation matters because “we needed to be seen as potential MPs.” She described Dickson as an opportunity, despite being labelled unwinnable, and responded to doubts by working harder than others: “I literally door knocked all 300 voting members.”
The emotional centre of her speech came when she spoke about losing her son Henry, saying “it is a grief that never fades.” She recalled his encouragement: “don’t make me the excuse for you not doing important stuff.”
“In grief, I was a very different candidate,” she said. “In 2025, I was my authentic self,” adding that this helped shift perceptions, showing that “disability is strength… it is absolutely worthy.”
Ms France concluded by warning of growing division and inequality but argued that “the answer is community.” She described “community building… as the antidote to division,” adding that “joy and kindness… can be a simple act of resistance.”
“I don’t have the answers to all of this,” she said, “but we need to do more, and we need to do better,” leaving the audience with a message grounded in both realism and hope. |
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