Several months ago, representatives from the Iraqi community approached me with the idea of organising a festival to celebrate Iraq's rich history and cultural diversity. My office assisted the organisers, and it was wonderful to see the Iraqi Festival come to life in Liverpool over the weekend. With traditional dances, art exhibitions, literature and coffee, the festival allowed our wider community to gain a greater understanding of the heritage of Iraq and the rich history and achievements of the country over many centuries. It also allowed us to celebrate the contribution of various members of the Iraqi community in Australia. I am so proud of the unique reflection of Mandean, Assyrian, Yazidi, Chaldean and other Iraqi influences on south-west Sydney. I congratulate Laith Al Uboodi and all the other organisers on their commitment and passion. It was particularly wonderful to see the involvement of young people keeping the Iraqi culture alive.