Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm pleased to say show season is up and running in the mighty electorate of Durack. We've already had the Moondyne Festival in Toodyay, which I was pleased to attend earlier this year. It is a very special show, as people dressed in pioneer costumes are transformed back to the era of Moondyne Joe, with re-enactments of his escapades, arrest and mock trial.

While we may have just had the Summer Olympics in Paris, at the Kununurra Show there was the equally serious watermelon Olympics—another fantastic event showcasing the beautiful East Kimberley. We've recently had shows across the Pilbara, with the Spinifex Carnival in Port Hedland, the FeNaCING Festival in Karratha and the Outback Fortescue Festival in Newman. Together with the Pilbara Liberals, it was great to see the fantastic Liberal candidate for the electorate of the Pilbara, Amanda Kailis, there representing the regional Liberal team. The Mingenew Expo has just taken place—another great success, with many dropping by to participate in the world-famous jellybean counting competition to guess how many jellybeans are in the jar; I of course appreciate the counting efforts of my team!

Next Wednesday I'm off to Dowerin, for their Machinery Field Days. This is an event that brings thousands of Western Australians from the city and the bush. I'm looking forward to catching up once again with the local farmers and also representatives from Keep the Sheep. I take this opportunity to invite the Prime Minister to Dowerin—but, a warning: if he does come I would caution him not to make any poor jokes about live export like he did the other night at the AgriFutures event, which was supposed to be about celebrating rural women. Unsurprisingly, jests about destroying people's livelihoods will not go down too well in Dowerin. My prediction is that the Labor tent at Dowerin is going to be a very lonely, sad place.

Still to come are shows in Mullewa, Chapman Valley, York, Northam, Northampton, Moora and Toodyay. I am passionate about the shows and the agricultural field days in Durack. They provide a fantastic opportunity for people to 'accidentally' start a conversation with their local member. While we all know not all community members want to call by our offices or write a letter, many often stop by at the shows and take the opportunity to have a chat with their federal member. Understandably, my team and I have been hearing about the rising cost of living and the high interest rates which are causing tremendous pain for so many families across the Durack community. These shows don't just happen; they require hours and hours of volunteer time and focus. I thank all the show organisers and the hundreds of volunteers for all their hard work. You do your communities proud by continuing to hold these shows and set up these shows year after year. They are a centrepiece of every town's calendar.