Australian leaders celebrate Thai Pongal with messages of praise

The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition have extended warm greetings, recognising the contributions of Tamil Australians to the country.
The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition have extended warm greetings, recognising the contributions of Tamil Australians to the country.

As the Tamil community in Australia celebrates Thai Pongal today, both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition have extended warm greetings, recognising the contributions of Tamil Australians to the country.

In a message marking Thai Pongal 2025 and Tamil Heritage Month, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his appreciation for the Tamil Australian community, calling the festival “a celebration of renewal and rejuvenation.” He said, “Each year, many thousands of people across our nation unite in gratitude for the new season and its promise of abundance and prosperity.”

Highlighting the Tamil community’s significance in Australia’s social fabric, the Prime Minister stated, “Australia is enriched by many cultures and faiths, and the Tamil community is a cherished part of our national story. Together we have built our social cohesion over generations, and our country will continue to grow and thrive because of the bonds of community and friendship that uplift us every day.”

He concluded his message by sending his best wishes to Tamil Australians, saying, “To all members of Australia’s Tamil community I send my best wishes for a wonderful Thai Pongal and Tamil Heritage Month—and a safe and prosperous 2025.”

The Leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton, also shared his greetings, calling January “an important month for Australians who speak Tamil or have Tamil ancestry.” In his message, he reflected on the festival’s deep agrarian roots in Tamil society, noting how it symbolises gratitude for prosperity. “Families will gather together, and among many traditions, cook milk and rice puddings in clay pots which are allowed to boil over to represent the abundance of a happy harvest,” he said.

Dutton also paid tribute to the historical migration of Tamil people to Australia, stating, “Tamil peoples migrated to Australia as early as the late 19th century in search of gold or to work on sugarcane plantations. And many more came in the 1960s and 1970s in search of a new life in Australia, where they worked hard and raised a new generation of Australians.”
Acknowledging the contributions of the Tamil community, he remarked, “I take this opportunity to thank our Tamil community for your contributions to our country in many fields of endeavour.” 

Dutton also highlighted Australia’s multicultural ethos, stating, “These celebrations are testimony to the achievement of modern Australia: we are a people of many backgrounds, of many faiths, who practise many cultural traditions. Despite these differences, we are united as Australians by the things we have in common: our love of family, our appreciation for friends and colleagues, our attachment to community, our sense of duty, our aspiration and optimism, our respect for law and liberty, our pride in our country, and our desire to protect democracy.”

See the full text of both messages below.

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PRIME MINISTER

MESSAGE FROM THE PRIME MINISTER THAI PONGAL 2025

I’m delighted to send warmest wishes to the Tamil Australian community as you celebrate Thai Pongal and Tamil Heritage Month.  

Each year, many thousands of people across our nation unite in gratitude for the new season and its promise of abundance and prosperity.  

This traditional harvest festival is in every way a celebration of renewal and rejuvenation—a chance to gather with friends and family to enjoy a season overflowing with joy and generosity.  

Australia is enriched by many cultures and faiths, and the Tamil community is a cherished part of our national story. Together we have built our social cohesion over generations, and our country will continue to grow and thrive because of the bonds of community and friendship that uplift us every day.  

To all members of Australia’s Tamil community I send my best wishes for a wonderful Thai Pongal and Tamil Heritage Month—and a safe and prosperous 2025.  

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP
Prime Minister of Australia  

January 2025  

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THE HON PETER DUTTON MP LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

TAMIL THAI PONGAL FESTIVAL & TAMIL HERITAGE MONTH

January is an important month for Australians who speak Tamil or have Tamil ancestry.  

On 14 January this year, the Tamil Thai Pongal Festival will be celebrated.  

Tracing back to ancient agrarian Tamil societies, the festival was an occasion to give thanks for everything associated with an abundant harvest – the sun which nourished the land, the farmer who cultivated the land, and the animals that ploughed the land.  

Drawing on its ancient traditions, the festival today symbolises renewal and the importance of gratitude for prosperity. Families will gather together, and among many traditions, cook milk and rice puddings in clay pots which are allowed to boil over to represent the abundance of a happy harvest.  

January is also celebrated as Tamil Heritage Month by many Australians of Tamil ancestry. The Tamil people and their language originated in southern India and spread across Southeast Asia. Tamil peoples migrated to Australia as early as the late 19th century in search of gold or to work on sugarcane plantations. And many more came in the 1960s and 1970s in search of a new life in Australia, where they worked hard and raised a new generation of Australians.  

On the occasion of the Thai Pongal Festival and the beginning of Tamil Heritage Month, I take this opportunity to thank our Tamil community for your contributions to our country in many fields of endeavour.  

These celebrations are testimony to the achievement of modern Australia: we are a people of many backgrounds, of many faiths, who practise many cultural traditions. Despite these differences, we are united as Australians by the things we have in common: our love of family, our appreciation for friends and colleagues, our attachment to community, our sense of duty, our aspiration and optimism, our respect for law and liberty, our pride in our country, and our desire to protect democracy.  

Happy Pongal.  


Hon Peter Dutton MP
Leader of the Opposition  

January 2025  

 

 

 

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