Marco Testa, Editor of Allora!, attended the Open Office Day hosted by Federal Member for Werriwa Anne Stanley on Saturday, 11 July, taking the opportunity to discuss a range of issues affecting the local community and the Italian-Australian media sector.
Among the topics raised were the Federal Government’s recently passed tax reforms, with particular attention given to measures designed to improve opportunities for younger Australians to own a home.
The discussion focused on how the reforms aim to improve the housing market and help first-home buyers compete on a more equal footing with investors.
The conversation also reflected on Anne Stanley’s decade of service in the Australian Parliament.
Marking ten years as the Member for Werriwa, Stanley remarked with a smile, “Where has it gone?”, acknowledging how quickly the milestone had arrived while reaffirming her commitment to serving the community.
A significant part of the meeting centred on multicultural media and its vital role in keeping culturally and linguistically diverse communities informed and connected.
Stanley reiterated her longstanding support for multicultural publications and highlighted the importance of recent grant programs that have provided assistance to community media organisations.
Marco Testa thanked the Member for her consistent advocacy for multicultural media and, in particular, for her support of Allora!.
He noted that local ethnic newspapers continue to play an essential role in preserving language, culture and community identity, while ensuring readers remain informed about issues that directly affect their lives.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both recognising the importance of maintaining strong links between elected representatives and community media.
Such engagement helps ensure that the Italian-Australian community continues to be heard and represented within Australia’s broader public conversation.
