MAITLAND WELCOMES FIFTY-SIX NEW AUSTRALIAN CITIZENS

Ms JENNY AITCHISON (Maitland—Minister for Regional Transport and Roads)—In the last two months, Maitland City Council's Australian Citizenship Ceremonies have seen fifty-six individuals become Australian Citizens. These ceremonies mark a special chapter in each and every new citizen's migration story and their ongoing commitment to Australia and our shared values. The most recent of these ceremonies took place as part of the Maitland Riverlights Festival, a festival that has grown into a weeklong celebration of Maitland's Colourful Cultural composition and the perfect setting to welcome our new citizens. I would like to extend a warm welcome to each and every one of our new citizens who have come from nations across the globe including Afghanistan, Estonia, Indonesian, India, United Kingdom, Thailand and New Zealand. It's wonderful to have these individuals and their families in the Maitland community as proud Australian Citizens. Their own personal experiences add to the fabric of our multicultural community, and they contribute to the economic and social development of our community. Congratulations and welcome!