It’s a great pleasure and a privilege to welcome these folk who have chosen to make Australian their home and chosen to abide by the laws of our land.

I know they will all add to the culture and diversity of our rich multicultural nation, which is now home to more than 24 million people, more than a quarter of whom were born overseas.

Australia has a long history of migration and a long Indigenous history prior to that.

Our country has been built on the combined contributions of our Indigenous people and those who came later from all over the world.

We celebrate this diversity and, at the same time, we strive to be a unified and harmonious nation.

We are free and democratic, we have stable government and respect the rule of law.

We live peacefully and have compassion for those in need.

We do not always agree. But we respect each other’s differences and choices, and we speak out against those who would deny those rights.

On Australia Day, I invite you to welcome our newcomers, to remember our history, and to take time to think about what being an Australian means to you.

As your representative in our nation’s government, I welcome your thoughts on that, and am here to help you where I can.

I am pleased to see a new mural to mark the history of the Hydro Aluminium Smelter is taking shape near Kurri Kurri.

The smelter, which has also been known as Alcan, Capral and VAW, was a major employer in our area for more than 40 years before its closure in 2012, and many families have fond links with it.

It will be the 61st mural to be painted in Kurri Kurri, which has become renowned for these historical works of art.

I appreciate the commitment of Hydro, Towns with Heart, and artist Daniel Joyce in making this happen.

Our community is richer for these kinds of contributions that are enjoyed by visitors and locals alike.