Parliamentary Group for Tibet celebrates the Dalai Lama’s 90th Birthday in Canberra

30 July 2025, Canberra.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama turned 90 on 6th July 2025. To mark this auspicious occasion the office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration declared the year, 2025 a ‘ Year of Compassion’.

On 30 July 2025 members of the Australian All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet (AAPGT) celebrated His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s 90th Birthday, at a dinner event co-hosted by Australia Tibet Council and the Tibet Information Office.

Members of the Tibetan community were joined by AAPGT Co-Chairs Senator Dean Smith and Senator Barbara Pocock; Members of Parliament, Deputy Speaker Sharon Claydon, David Smith, Dr Sophie Scamps and Dr Daniel Mulino; and ACT MLA Peter Cain. They were joined by dignitaries from Embassies, Think-tanks and parliamentary staff.

It was a wonderful evening for the parliamentarians in their first sitting-weeks of the new parliament since the election in May. The speakers on the night reiterated their commitment to supporting the just cause of Tibet, and they acknowledged the Dalai Lama’s contributions to universal peace and his advocacy for nonviolence — which are so very relevant in these troubled times.

Our event also had cultural dances from the Canberra Tibetan Community and a special performance by Grammy-nominated Tibetan artist Tenzin Choegyal, who, with the Canberra Tibetan Community children, performed a rendition of ‘Snowy Mountains’ a tribute to the Dalai Lama written by Tenzin Choegyal and Philip Glass.

Ngunnawal elder Aunty Violet Sheridan delivered the Welcome to Country for our event, and Canberra Tibetan Community member, Diki Tshoko was MC for the evening.

Australia Tibet Council is proud to have co-hosted this event in Canberra. It was a great opportunity to reconnect with some of the MPs and Senators reelected to the new Parliament – such events help create relationships, to work together for human rights in Tibet.