Gold Coast MP John-Paul Langbroek hits a nerve during citizenship ceremony with warning
Outspoken MP John-Paul Langbroek has surprised Gold Coast citizenship ceremony attendees by telling them not to bring their countries’ “problems” to Australia. READ HIS FULL MESSAGE
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OUTSPOKEN MP John-Paul Langbroek has told Gold Coast citizenship ceremony attendees not to bring their “problems” to Australia.
The comment was met with disdain from guests at HOTA on Thursday morning, with one telling the Bulletin she refused to clap for the LNP Member for Surfers Paradise after he finished speaking.
“I can’t believe what he said, I made a point of not clapping at the end of his speech,” she said.
Mayor Tom Tate invited Mr Langbroek to speak in his role of Shadow Minister for Arts and Multicultural Affairs.
Mr Langbroek, whose parents came to Australia from Holland and America, told some 25 Gold Coasters waiting to be sworn in that he became a citizen in 1996.
“It’s a day of mixed emotions about what you have left behind and we don’t expect you to leave it completely behind,” he said.
“But what we do ask is, and the mayor often says this, is that we treat each other with harmony, respect and courtesy.
“If you do come from some of those countries where they’ve had difficulties or battles, please don’t bring those problems here.
“Because in Australia we pride ourselves on our assimilation, the fact that you can maintain your own culture but that we value our own Gold Coast and Queensland community.”
Mr Langbroek also told guests that a “very important election is coming up in six weeks and four days, it’s very important to have a vote in Australia, you have to vote”.
The citizenship ceremony, on Australian Citizenship Day, was meant to be attended by about 50 locals but only about 25 turned up to be sworn in.
Mayor Tate said “the few empty chairs” was probably because of COVID-19 and that people “were a bit worried but we can do our best for people who turn up”.
“This is the first time we’ve had a citizenship ceremony during COVID-19, the last time was the 14th of February and we know it’s one of the most exciting things in a person’s life, becoming an Australian citizen,” he said.
In February more than 3000 people attend a mega citizenship ceremony at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre.
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