Andrew Leigh

MEDIA RELEASE

Andrew Leigh
Member for Fraser
Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister

THURSDAY 20^TH JUNE 2013

ANDREW LEIGH INVITES CANBERRANS TO JOIN HIM AT WALK TOGETHER

Dr Andrew Leigh, Member for Fraser has invited all Canberrans to "Walk Together" on Saturday 22 June 2013 to celebrate diversity and call for an end to the politics of fear, division and prejudice.

The Member for Fraser, Dr Andrew Leigh MP, said that it was important to ensure that the language around the refugee issue is always respectful and that we recognise the vast contribution refugees and migrants have made to this country

“There’s a local story that still brings a lump to my throat about an art competition run as part of Refugee Week, where the first prize went to a Karen Burmese woman who had woven a traditional crimson tunic,” said Dr Leigh,

“She was missing her homeland so much that she made a loom by taking the mattress of the wooden bed base and using the slats as a loom to weave a traditional Karen tunic.

“That story for me sums up the extraordinary courage and ability of Australia’s refugees,” he said.

From 1pm at Reconciliation Place on Saturday, 1000 people are expected to walk down to the lake, across Commonwealth Avenue Bridge and finish at a celebratory concert at Stage 88 in Commonwealth Park from 2pm.

Walk Together events are taking place in 16 cities and regional centres around Australia this weekend.

Walk Together, hosted by multicultural organisation Welcome to Australia and Amnesty International, closes out Refugee Week with tens of thousands of people expected to come together nation-wide.

The celebratory concert will be kicked of 104.7’s Maz Hakim as MC, and include Welcome to Australia Ambassadors Ms Mariam Veiszadeh and Dr Andrew Leigh, as well as Minister Kate Lundy, Mr Simon Sheikh and local multicultural affairs leader, Mr Sam Wong AM.

In addition to speakers, there will be performances by Blue Yvie, the ACT Chinese Australian Association, Wiradjuri Echoes and Dente Musica Viva.