My best congratulations to the Chancellor of Western Sydney University Professor Jennifer Anne Westacott AO, on being named a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in the King’s Birthday Honours List, with her nomination citing her eminent service to business, tertiary education, the mental health sector and the community.
It has been a pleasure to serve WSU under Professor Westacott’s leadership. In particular, as a former Australian Human Rights Commissioner and longstanding Chair of the Australian Multicultural Council, I wish to recognise Professor Westacott’s committed advocacy for multicultural Australia and her actions to combat any form of discrimination.

Karol Nawrocki has won the Presidential election held in Poland on 1 June 2025. Nawrocki ran on a Christian nationalist and culturally conservative platform and against Rafal Trzaskowski, supported by Donald Tusk's ruling coalition. Both ran on pro-Western platforms, but differed on further strengthening relations with the European Union and Ukraine's membership in NATO, with Trzaskowski supporting both. Nawrocki opposed Ukraine's accession to NATO and the strengthening of ties with the EU. On the domestic front, Nawrocki's platform called for significant government intervention in the economy, maintaining close ties between the government and the Catholic Church, the broad criminalisation of abortion, and opposition to the legalisation of same-sex marriage or civil unions. Trzaskowski ran on economic liberalisation, European integration, the broad legalisation of abortion, the introduction of same sex civil unions. For more, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Polish_presidential_election

My best congratulations to the Consul General Piotr Rakowski and his staff for the professional organisation of voting at the Sydney Consulate of Poland on Sunday, 1 June 2025. It was the first time I voted in Polish elections. The Consul welcomed in-person people who came to vote; the process was well-organised, with almost no waiting. The atmosphere at the consulate was pleasant and welcoming from the moment you stepped in. The electoral staff was very helpful. Special care for the children, on International Children's Day, was a most welcome surprise. Many thanks to all involved. Well done!