Bridget Archer (Bass, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

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Pig was a pug,

and I'm sorry to say,

he would often tell lies

just to get his own way.

And when he would fib,

he was awfully clever.

When Pig got in trouble…

he would always blame Trevor.

So begins Pig the Fibber, just one in a very funny series of books from Australian author Aaron Blabey about a rather mischievous pug. This was the book of choice read by my youngest daughter, Molly, for Australian Reading Hour on 14 September. To be able to read is a joy, and learning to read can set up a lifelong love with the written word, where we understand the power of a book and the feelings it can evoke. I'm sure many of us here have a list of favourite books that have resonated with us for various reasons. Breath by Tim Winton, an author beloved by many Australians, is a personal favourite.

My island state—in particular, the northern Tasmanian region—has an ever-growing list of wonderfully talented writers. In recent years, Launceston's Rohan Wilson and Robbie Arnott have become well-known names, penning award-winning novels. Wilson had a start that most authors would dream of, with his first book, The Roving Party, beating out all other unpublished manuscripts in Australia to win the Vogel Award in 2011. Rohan himself admitted that it was the first thing of substance he had ever written and said, 'When I entered the award I didn't even know if I could write.' Wilson has since gone on to write two additional award-winning novels: To Name Those Lost and Daughter of Bad Times.

Robbie Arnott's debut novel, Flames, was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award and won the Margaret Scott Prize in the 2019 Tasmanian Premier's Literary Prize and followed up this year with The Rain Heron, which has been nominated for multiple accolades and has taken out the Age Book of the Year. For Launceston writer Robyn Friend, author of a number of works, including Eva and The Butterfly Stalker, her many years of dedication to the writing community and mentoring new writers, particularly in Tasmania, was recognised a few years ago with a nomination from the Society of Women Writers Tasmania for the prestigious Alice Award. The award acknowledges a significant contribution to Australian literature, and Robyn was most certainly a worthy nominee.

As the member for Moreton noted in his speech, COVID-19 has interrupted many literary festivals across the country. In Northern Tasmania, the popular biennial Tamar Valley Writers Festival was, sadly, cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic. Looking ahead to 2022, where a fully-fledged three-day festival is planned, the committee banded together to create a smaller pop-up festival in September called Word of Mouth. This included the world premiere of Marjorie Unravelled, a musical about Tasmania's answer to Dame Edna, Marjorie Bligh. There are also school workshops with authors Lyndon Riggall and Kyle Perry plus a day of writing and storytelling events at Tamar Valley Resort. There are book clubs with morning tea, an editing workshop and a panel discussion on crime writing with award-winning scriptwriters and authors, including Vicki Madden, Kyle Perry, Alan Carter and Tansy Rayner Roberts.

Committee member Johanna Baker-Dowdell told me, 'It was designed to be like a tasting plate of storytelling, conversation and performances, but we also hoped it would keep everyone's spirits up when we had so much being cancelled or changed due to COVID.' I would encourage anyone interested to check out the festival's own podcast, where Lyndon Riggall and Annie Warburton talk to Tasmanian authors, playwrights, comedians, poets and editors about their works, how they draw inspiration from Tasmania and what's in store for them. This can be found on the festival's website page at www.tamarvalleywritersfestival.com.au.podcast.

I'd also like to take this time to acknowledge the role that our local libraries play in our communities. Across Northern Tasmania the Beaconsfield, Bridport, Exeter, George Town, Launceston, Lilydale, Ravenswood and Scottsdale libraries all play a critical role in ensuring that books are accessible to all. Our libraries offer so much more than providing free books—offering courses, literacy programs, school holiday programs and more. A big congratulations to the Launceston Library on its recent 50th birthday celebrations.

Finally, if you're looking to purchase a book, I would encourage you to put your money behind your local small-business book store and encourage everyone to visit australiareads.org.au. (Time expired)

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