John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I can tell from the reaction in the chamber that there is a lot of interest in the Coraki Art Prize. I want to say to senators and any who might be listening, and I certainly hope some are listening in Coraki tonight, that you can find out more about the quiz night and the Coraki Art Prize on the website www.corakiartprize.org.au. I commend this to interested senators.

Events like the Coraki Art Prize, whether they be in sport, art, music, theatre or other endeavours, are the glue that binds together small country communities like that of Coraki and so many other rural and regional communities in New South Wales and right around Australia. I say they are very deserving of the support and encouragement of all of us who serve in the parliament.

Honourable senators: Hear, hear!

I am pleased to hear that response from senators who so warmly and strongly agree. I congratulate all those whose hard work in the local community of Coraki has made the Coraki Art Prize such a success.

Finally, let me record that the principal judge at this year's Coraki art show was Kylie Scroope, who I believe is the Director of Art Services here in Parliament House and responsible for the management of the parliament's extensive art collection. And I can finally say that the organisers of the Coraki Art Prize and art show were quick to tell me that Kylie was born—yes, you guessed it—in Coraki.