E&OE...............................................................................................................................
Well thank you very much John. Thank you very much Bob. To the
Consul General for Italy in Sydney, to Peter Collins, the Leader
of the Opposition in NSW, to my very good colleague and friend,
Minister for Defence Industry, Science and Personnel, Bronwyn Bishop.
And I've only allocated myself three or four minutes because
I don't believe in long speeches at these gatherings so I won't
welcome all the other dignitaries but simply say friends all.
And I start by saying what an absolutely fantastic military band
that was. And whoever organised it deserves the credit and thanks
of us all. Ladies and gentlemen, as many of you know this is not
the first Italian National Day celebration that I have had the privilege
of addressing. And it is for me an immense pleasure as Prime Minister
of our great country to express on behalf of all of your fellow
Australians our simple and deep gratitude to the Australians of
Italian desent for all that you have given to our country over such
a long period of time.
More than a billion people have left different parts of Italy,
most of them over the last half a century to come and make their
home in Australia. And they have brought their values, they have
brought their passion, they've brought their commitment, they've
brought their brains, they've brought their song, they've
brought their laughter, they've brought all of their emotions
and they have contributed to every part of Australian life. Wherever
you go, be it in politics, be it in business, be it in medicine,
be it in the other professions, be it in the arts, be it in business,
you find Australians of Italian desent. And you find, if you look
back over the last 50 years, a very special way in which Italians
have changed for the better the way of life in our country. And
I thank you for that.
I think Australia has done better than any other country on earth
in bringing together people of different ethnic and cultural and
linguistic backgrounds and producing a unified cohesive blend yet
allowing each individual part of that process to preserve a special
affection and love of the country of their birth and the country
of their cultural heritage. And one of the most moving experiences
I have as Prime Minister, wherever I go in Australia is to come
across men and women who have come from Italy, many of them 30 or
40 years ago and they speak with pride and love and emotion of what
it meant to come to Australia but they also retain a very fierce
and understandable pride and love for the country of their birth.
And it really does make me feel immensely proud and humble as Prime
Minister of this country that we've been able to receive people
who have given so much to Australia and if they feel consistent
with that and at ease with that love of Australia, a great retentive
love for the country of their birth. And I think that's something
that all of us should feel particular pride in.
I know, ladies and gentlemen, that at this time there are many
of us who feel sorrow and sadness that the mudslide tragedy in the
Campania area of Italy and I know that the Consul General's
spoken for all of us in making a reference to that.
Can I say two other things and that is that I want to honour the
modern contribution of the Italian Republic to the family of the
world. Many of us not only know that Italian desent look with great
pride on the economic and social success and development of Italy
particularly over the last 20 or 30 years. Italy has a great and
beneficial influence particularly, but not only, on the family of
Europe and in the wider council of the world Italy is greatly and
justifiably respected.
And finally can I say to you that I am about to initiate arrangements
that will lead to a formal invitation to his excellency the President
of the Italian Republic, Signor Scalfaro to visit Australia
at the end of the year.
So to all of you my friends, thank you for what you have done for
Australia. Go on being part of this great nation of ours and thank
you very warmly for having me with you. Thank you.