Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Tonight in the Great Hall, the member for Leichhardt and I will be launching the Parliamentary Friends of Australian Children's Storytelling. It's going to be a fantastic night, and I invite all honourable members to come along and to help us launch this important group.

It is true that storytelling is best done when it reflects the lives and the culture that Australian children themselves have. It is our creatives, whether that be in screen, theatre or literature, who are so important in keeping alive Australian culture through our kids. Those creatives excite and entertain but, really importantly, educate. So we owe a great debt to creative Australians who are not only passing on Australian culture but allowing Aussie kids to see themselves reflected. Stories that are for, with, by and about Australian children will mean that they will go forward not just with overseas influences through storytelling but, importantly, with Australian ones at the forefront. We know that more Aussie stories will mean that our kids have a better cultural understanding, and it's great for jobs.