Australian MP Honors Dalai Lama's 90th Birthday in Parliament

Dr. Sophie Scamps, Independent MP for Mackellar, delivered a parliamentary address on July 28, 2025, commemorating the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday. She highlighted the significance of His Holiness's recent announcement affirming the continuation of the Dalai Lama institution beyond his lifetime. Dr. Scamps noted that Mackellar hosts Australia's largest Tibetan community and described recent celebrations including a traditional cultural event in her electorate and a formal dinner at New South Wales Parliament House honoring Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration. She emphasized these celebrations are impossible inside Tibet, underscoring the importance of cultural freedom for Tibetan diaspora. Dr. Scamps recalled her 2023 Dharamsala visit with an Australian parliamentary delegation, reaffirming her commitment to supporting Tibetan cultural and religious freedom.