ADJOURNMENT
Senator SCARR (Queensland) (21:23): Can I just say this first: Senator Lambie, since I've been in this place, since 2019, your advocacy for veterans like Kate has been an absolute inspiration, so thank you for that. Obviously, we're all deeply impacted by that, and Kate should know that. Also, to Kate's treating psychiatrist: thank you for everything that you do.
It's a great service that you're providing. On 30 July 2026, I was delighted to attend the Scouts Queensland annual general meeting. I'd like to thank, for their kind invitation, Chief Commissioner Geoff Doo; the president, the Hon.
Jane Prentice, who served in the Australian parliament with great distinction as the member for Ryan; and also the chair of the branch executive, Mr Craig Ray, who's a very good friend of mine. There are a number of things that really stood out to me attending the Scouts Queensland AGM. First were the wonderful presentations given by Elizabeth, who gave a reflection—and these are all youth members—and Felicity, who spoke about the Cuboree.
She gave a remarkable presentation. Felicity, you were tremendous. Anna, a Venturer Scout, spoke about her New Zealand adventure.
I was so impressed with the presentation from all of the youth members. Second, there are currently 8,654 youth members of Scouts Queensland, but they're supported by 1,963 adult members. The amount of time those volunteers spend equates to one million hours.
That's one million hours of volunteering and supporting those youth members. Congratulations to each and every one of those adult members. Third, Resilient Youth Australia conducted a survey in 2025 which indicates that Scouts achieve better results in the categories of resilience by 13 per cent, healthy mind by four per cent and ready to learn by six per cent.
Lastly, I'd like to really congratulate Scouts Queensland on their Agoonoree, which is a special camp they hold for children with additional needs, and 80 children with additional needs get the opportunity to participate in a camp with Queensland Scouts. This is a terrific initiative. It's been going on since 1980, and I'd like to congratulate everyone involved in that particular initiative.
As they say, Agoonoree is about ability, not disability. Congratulations to Scouts Queensland. Thank you for everything you do.
Last Saturday, I was delighted to attend what we call the iconic India Day Fair in Roma Street Parklands in Brisbane, and I'd like to congratulate the team at Gopio QLD for putting on another wonderful iconic India Day Fair. In particular, I'd like to thank the president, Dr Priya Jaganathan, and also her entire team. I'd also like to make a special mention of my dear friend Usha Chandra OAM, who was given a special memento of recognition from the wonderful Speaker of the House of Representatives, my dear friend, the Hon.
Milton Dick. He did that in recognition of Usha's fantastic support to so many community causes, including to our wonderful Indian Queensland diaspora. Congratulations, Usha.
One of the wonderful things about the iconic India Day Fair is the number of different representatives from multicultural communities who attend in their support, which reflects the generosity of our Indian Queensland diaspora supporting other multicultural events. Congratulations to everyone at Gopio. I was delighted on 7 August 2026 to attend the reopening of Village Support Limited's office and community facilities at Redbank Plains near my office in Springfield in Queensland.
Village Support Limited works closely with young people, families and communities of African heritage across Queensland, providing support, mentorship, leadership opportunities and practical assistance. Through its focus on early intervention, youth engagement and community connection, it's helping to create positive pathways for young people and strengthen communities across South-East Queensland.
It is a wonderful example of grassroots community action, and I really want to congratulate my good friend Beny Bol OAM, who's the Chief Executive Officer of Village Support Limited, and his wonderful team of mentors and youth workers who do such a wonderful job at Village Support Limited. I'd also like to give a special shoutout—and I thought this was absolutely terrific—to ARC Projects for undertaking the fit-out of the building at no cost to Village Support Limited.
They provided a pro bono fit-out and renovation with the cooperation of a number of their suppliers. They refer to this as an ARC Heart Project. I particularly place on record my congratulations to ARC Projects on this initiative.
It meant so much to our African Queensland community that there was a company like ARC Projects that was prepared to provide this support to the community. Congratulations to Ben Taylor, the WHS manager, and Charles Begg, the commercial preconstruction manager, in particular for their leadership in this regard. Thank you very much, ARC Projects.
On 15 August I was delighted to attend the Grand Pakistan Day event. This was hosted by my dear friends from the Pakistan Australian Cultural Association—or, as we refer to it, PACA. I acknowledge Syed Asghar Naqvi for his leadership of PACA and acknowledge the wonderful work of PACA in supporting people in need.
This includes members of the Pakistan diaspora in Queensland. It includes students, visitors and those who find themselves in very difficult positions. PACA is always there.
I also note the way that PACA, since its founding in 1984, embraces and reaches out to other multicultural communities. We saw that during the course of the celebrations. We had contributions from our Peruvian Queensland community, our Japanese Queensland community and our Indonesian Queensland community.
This was part of the intention of PACA, to make sure that this celebration was open to all multicultural communities in Queensland. I also congratulate Noreen Jawad. She's a wonderful artist.
She had a presentation called 'Many Journeys, One Shared Home'. I quote from Noreen: 'Every painted piece on my stall told part of one story—how migrants leave one home, rebuild another and help shape the country we all share.' That's a beautiful sentiment. Amongst other things, Noreen does what we call 'truck art'.
I wasn't aware of this, but in Pakistan truck drivers typically spend a lot of time decorating their trucks; they refer to it as 'truck art'. I have a little miniature truck in the window of my office in Parliament House. Every morning, when I enter my office at Parliament House, I'm reminded of the contribution of our wonderful Pakistan Queensland community.
I must say, one of the highlights of the event on Saturday was when everyone, the whole crowd, sang 'Waltzing Matilda'. From my perspective, nothing could better demonstrate how much Australians of Pakistan heritage are part of the Australian story. Lastly, I congratulate the Association of Pakistani Doctors Queensland on their very important initiative to raise funds in relation to bowel cancer.
They had a walk to raise funds to address bowel cancer on Sunday 21 June. I particularly recognise Doctor Asif Shahzad, the president of, as we refer to it, APDOQ. I also congratulate the founding presidents, who have passed on: Dr Muhammad Arshad Hussain and Doctor Maqsood ul-Hassan.
It was a great initiative.