Stirling Griff (SA, Centre Alliance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator McCarthy, move:

That the Senate:

(a) wishes Ms Jessica Mauboy every success when she competes in the second semi-final of the 53rd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, and that she goes on to win the final on 13 May 2018 (Australian time);

(b) notes that this year's Eurovision Song Contest is in Lisbon, Portugal with the theme 'All Aboard!' which invites the international community, connected by oceans, to come together for this year's contest;

(c) acknowledges:

  (i) Ms Mauboy is an important role model for all young Australians, especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young peoples,

  (ii) Ms Mauboy is strong supporter and ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, understanding the challenges and barriers to literacy experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in remote communities,

  (iii) Ms Mauboy is also one of Australia's most successful Australian artists achieving five top 10 albums, fifteen Top 20 hit singles, four ARIA accredited platinum selling albums, and making ARIA chart history being the first Indigenous woman to achieve three consecutive weeks at number 1,

  (iv) Ms Mauboy exemplifies Australia's diverse cultural heritage,

  (v) Ms Mauboy's family originates from the KuKu Yalanji people of Far North Queensland and West Timor, and

  (vi) Ms Mauboy's selection as Australia's representative at Eurovision 2018 as a proud young Indigenous Australian is a celebration of Australia's cultural diversity;

(d) congratulates SBS for televising the Eurovision Song Contest for 35 years—in 2017, the SBS coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest reached 2.8 million viewers, entertaining many Australians and providing a connection to countries from which many Australians have emigrated; and

(e) encourages all Australians to watch, enjoy and vote in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018, and wish Ms Mauboy well.

Question agreed to.