CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Ms PLIBERSEK (Sydney—Minister for Social Services) (09:42): Earlier this year, during Lunar New Year festivities in Sydney's Chinatown, I was delighted to join the community for the opening of the Museum of Chinese in Australia, a project years in the making and very meaningful to many in my electorate. The museum has now opened with the support of the Albanese government, fulfilling our commitment to preserve and share the long and extraordinary story of Chinese Australians.

Located in the heritage-listed former Haymarket library, a building with more than 180 years of history, the museum has been transformed into a vibrant cultural institution with new exhibition, archive and public spaces. This is the first Chinese-focused museum in New South Wales, and it's home in Haymarket could not be more fitting. When I toured the building in early 2024, it was clear how strongly the community believed in this project.

That vision has been carried for years by the museum's founding leaders, including Dr John Yu AC and Daphne Lowe-Kelley, who have long championed the importance of preserving Chinese Australian history. For generations, Chinese values of tenacity and hospitality have been part of Sydney's cultural and economic fabric. The Albanese government has invested $2.6 million in the museum's fit-out and refurbishment, delivering on the election commitment, the Foreign minister and I announced during our visit in April 2025.

With the additional support from the City of Sydney, the New South Wales government and the personal generosity of many including the Pang sisters, this museum stands as a testament to what genuine partnership can achieve. At the opening, the Prime Minister reflected on the remarkable contribution, ambition and hard work of Chinese Australians, qualities that have helped build our nation from before the gold rush till today.

Their story is a vital thread in our national identity, and this museum ensures that it is recognised and celebrated for years to come. Labor understands that Australia's diversity is one of our greatest strengths, and this museum embodies that belief. It preserves the stories, struggles and achievements of Chinese Australians and reminds us of the central place they hold in our shared history.

The location in Chinatown is a place where Chinese culture, hard work and creativity have flourished for generations, and those values continue to enliven our city. MOCA is more than a museum. Through its exhibitions, education programs and community outreach, it brings us together and builds understanding.

It offers all Australians a place to learn and celebrate the history and heritage of Chinese Australians, whose contributions have helped define our cities, our economy and our national character. At a time when social cohesion around the world is under strain, museums like MOCA unite people. They deepen the sense of belonging and shared pride that underpin Australia's multicultural success.

The opening of the museum is a milestone for Sydney and for our nation. It honours the past, enriches the present and strengthens the future we are building together.