Keith Wolahan (Menzies, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

By virtue of being in this place, I am not the best parent, but, when I can impart a lesson, it is this: always show up, never give up and, wherever you can, be a reader. In this Book Week, I would like to say to my children and all children in Australia that I never met Dr Seuss but I know because of books that Dr Seuss said:

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.

I never met Walt Disney, but I know from books that Walt Disney said:

There is more treasure in books than in all the pirates' loot on Treasure Island …

You will be surprised to know that I never met Napoleon Bonaparte, but Napoleon Bonaparte said:

Show me a family of readers, and I will show you the people who move the world.

Maybe Napoleon should have read less! I never met Margaret Fuller, but I know from books that she said:

Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.

In this Book Week, it is more than just dress-ups. It is about this country acknowledging the power of books and the power of reading in this digital age more than ever, because through books the whole world is there for you to travel, through books you will learn from people long dead and through books you will learn the true beauty and opportunity that comes with being a human.