Keith Pitt (Hinkler, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

During the winter recess, Attorney-General and Minister for the Arts, Senator the Hon. George Brandis QC, visited my electorate to announce $35,000 for the Hinkler House Memorial Museum and Research Association to restore the Armstrong Siddeley of the great aviator, Bert Hinkler—the very man my electorate is named after.

We had the absolute pleasure of meeting some of the very passionate people who have made this project possible, including members of the Bundaberg Vintage Vehicle Club who are meticulously restoring the car. Tom Smethurst, who generously donated the vehicle, also gifted me an original Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire Mark I handbook. He had done his research and knew that I too own an Armstrong Siddeley.

Senator Brandis and I also hosted a community forum on national security at the Bundaberg RSL. A recent survey of the Hinkler electorate found national security and border control is the No. 1ne issue of concern in my electorate. This may have something to do with the fact we have a larger-than-average veteran community and that the number of young Hinkler residents applying to join the Defence Force has increased significantly in recent years.

Senator Brandis was very generous with his time. He had lunch with members of the Bundaberg Law Association and attended a cocktail function with the Bundaberg Art Society. I was very grateful to the Bundaberg Art Society for hosting the event, and I am delighted to have been recently announced as their patron.

It was a very worthwhile ministerial visit, which gave Hinkler residents an opportunity to discuss a diverse range of issues directly with a senior member of the coalition cabinet.

In the brief time I have left: best of luck to the Australian Diamonds. I hope they win the Netball World Cup. I look forward to seeing them hold it up!

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