A group of young Maronite Australians from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane gathered in Canberra on Tuesday, under the leadership of Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay, for the inaugural Maronite Youth in Parliament Summit.
Hosted at Parliament House by the Parliamentary Friends of Lebanon, co‑chaired by Andrew Charlton MP and Alex Hawke MP, the summit marked the first time Maronite youth have been formally invited into Parliament to present their perspectives on Australia’s future and contribute directly to national conversations.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dropped by during one of the question sessions, greeting the 28 Maronite delegates and acknowledging the importance of youth engagement in shaping national policy.
In a symbolic moment, Mr Albanese was presented with a cedar tree, a powerful emblem of Lebanon, and a candle marking the Year of Prayer for Peace declared by the Maronite Eparchy for 2026.
Participants were assigned to one of four working groups under the following themes: Stronger Community, Stronger Nation, Stronger World and Stronger Future. Each group was tasked with developing practical recommendations for the Australian government to strengthen the Maronite community, build social cohesion, support Lebanon and the Middle East, and empower young people to meet future challenges.
Throughout the day, delegates engaged in robust dialogue, policy brainstorming and collaborative problem‑solving, with their discussions to be consolidated into a formal communiqué for submission to Parliament, reflecting their deep commitment to civic participation, cultural identity and Australia’s multicultural society.
The summit aimed to ensure Maronite youth feel heard by policymakers and to create a direct channel between young community leaders and Australia’s elected representatives.
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Historic Maronite Youth in Parliament Summit Held at Parliament House (Maronite)
