Parliamentary reception showcases national efforts in strengthening unity and social cohesion

CANBERRA, ACT – The Australian Baha’i Community, in conjunction with Dr. Sophie Scamps MP, recently hosted the annual Parliamentary reception to celebrate efforts made across the country in promoting unity. 

The reception is held every year at Parliament House in Canberra to coincide with the birth of Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Baha’i Faith.

Featuring addresses from government representatives and the Baha’i community, the reception cast a spotlight on endeavours being made across government, civil society and faith communities to enrich the country’s spiritual, material and social affairs. 

This year’s theme placed particular emphasis on celebrating and embracing diversity and contributing towards social cohesion and interfaith harmony. Indigenous Baha’i from the Torres Strait Islands Margaret Gabey, also known as Aunty Nay, offered the opening and closing prayers in her native language, with participants also joining along.

Dr. Sophie Scamps MP was the reception co-host. As the Member for MacKellar, home of the Sydney Baha’i House of Worship, she said the Baha’i Faith teaches that humanity is one family and our differences are not barriers but strengths. “This belief is expressed in the Temple … a place where people of all beliefs can come together in prayer and reflection.” 

“The Baha’i Temple is a representation of the Baha’i commitment to social cohesion, harmony and equality. And in our world where division and intolerance too often dominate the headlines, the Baha’i message is clear. Diversity is not something to fear. It is something to embrace and learn from.” 

The Hon. Dr Anne Aly MP, Minister for Small Business, International Development, and Multicultural Affairs represented the Prime Minister. His message read that “Peace, goodwill and justice are at the heart of the Baha’i Faith … as you reflect the light of Baha’u’llah’s teaching, I want to thank you all for all you have contributed to Australia with your hard work, your aspiration and your love of country.”

Minister Aly also provided her own remarks. She said that “over the years I have been honoured to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah with you…we have an opportunity to reimagine our national identity as one which encompasses our unique First Nations history, our colonial past, and our generations of migrants who have made our nation what it is today. A modern Australia is a multicultural Australia where our unity is strengthened by our diversity.” 

Minister Aly went on to quote Baha’u’llah’s words, reading: 

The Hon. Julian Hill MP, Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs and Assistant Minister for International Education, also provided a keynote address stating that principles which the Faith promoted such as the elimination of all forms of prejudice and an equal standard of human rights were “important spiritual moral values for all of us to be reminded of as we do our work here”. 

“Thank you for the work that you do … day in, day out, living your values by bringing diverse Australians together,” he said.

Dr Shayan Tai, chairperson of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Australia, shared the Baha’i perspective on the theme. She said our diversity of cultures, languages, perspectives and beliefs was not a challenge to be managed but rather a strength to be celebrated and protected. 

“In this regard, the writings of Baha’u’llah, the Prophet Founder of the Baha’i Faith, provide us with a powerful reminder of the importance of unity in diversity,” she said. 

Dr Tai added that communities in Australia are learning that social cohesion was far more than just the absence of conflict, but rather the presence of genuine connection and shared purpose. 

“It is the steady building of trust, empathy and collaboration towards a common and lofty goal, person by person, heart by heart.”