SYDNEY: Australian Senator Andrew Bragg has praised the entrepreneurial drive, skills and community-building efforts of the Nepali-Australian community, saying their growing presence is creating economic and social value in Australia.

Bragg, a Liberal Party senator representing New South Wales, made the remarks while speaking at an international youth entrepreneurship conference organised by the Federation of International Nepali Youth in Sydney.

He also expressed hope that Australians of Nepali origin would eventually be represented in the Australian federal Parliament.

“We are waiting for the day when we see Australians of Nepali origin as members of the Australian Parliament. Hopefully, that representation will come from the Liberal Party,” he said.

Bragg said Australia’s multicultural economy has been strengthened by communities from around the world. He highlighted the growing contribution of the Nepali-Australian community through entrepreneurship, professional skills and community development.

“People of Nepali background are highly entrepreneurial. They have excellent skills and have built a strong community,” Bragg said.

He also pointed to the growing political participation of Australians of Nepali origin, noting that the Liberal Party had fielded Bernard Paudel in the recent election in the Macarthur electorate and previously endorsed PJ Shrestha in Barton.

Bragg said greater political and economic participation by Australians of Nepali origin would be a positive development and expressed hope that the community would eventually gain representation in the federal Parliament.

During his participation in the Sydney conference, Bragg also met Nepali lawmakers and interacted with members of the Nepali diaspora. He said the community’s entrepreneurial capacity and professional skills could play an increasingly important role in Australia’s economic development.