Perrett, Graham, MP

Mr PERRETT (Moreton) (16:30): Today is the day that we ask all Australians to stop what they are doing for one hour and pick up a book. Today is Australian Reading Hour Day. While some of us use all of our spare moments to lose ourselves in a good book, other Australians just need a bit of a nudge to either discover or introduce themselves to the benefits of reading—and there are many. In children, reading has been shown to help with identity formation, and that will set them up for success in the future. In adults, reading has been shown to reduce stress by 68 per cent more than listening to music—although I thoroughly recommend that as well—going for a walk or having a cup of tea. Today is the day for all Australians to take one hour to learn, escape and relax. Australian Reading Hour is the result of a collaboration between the Australian Library Information Association, which initiated the Australian Reading Hour; the Australian Publishers Association, with huge support from Hachette Australia; the Australian Booksellers Association; and the Australian Society of Authors. Last year, the Australian Reading Hour campaign reached over 7.1 million people, garnered over 20,000 online followers and held hundreds of organised events in schools, libraries and bookshops all across Australia—and this year, it's even better. This year, for the first time, Australian Reading Hour will be led by seven ambassadors, including Benjamin Law, from Queensland; Rachael Johns; Matt Stanton; Karen Manbulloo; and Anthony Field, who is better known as the blue Wiggle—and you can't get much bigger than a Wiggle. For the first time, five books by five of the ambassadors will be published as a special promotion for Reading Hour and to encourage young readers to engage with reading. In yet another first, Karen Manbulloo's book, Moli det big bigi, is the first Indigenous language book featured in Australian Reading Hour, in English and Kriol. Kriol is the most widely spoken Indigenous language in Australia. So, if you have little ones, see if you can get a copy to read to them. It's a wonderful book. You can also search for the member for Sydney, the member for Cooper or me on Twitter. Senator Hughes, from New South Wales, and I are co-chairs of the Parliamentary Friends of Australian Books and Writers. We hosted an event in Parliament House this week to launch Reading Hour 2019. Sadly, I was unable to attend this year, but I was ably represented by Tanya Plibersek, who tells me that it was a wonderful event. Many members of parliament came along to hear from Australian authors about the importance of Australian books telling our Australian stories. On this occasion, the authors were children's authors Mick Elliott, best known for his Squidge Dibley series and his trilogy, The Turners; and Sally Rippin, who has written more than 60 children's books, including the Billie Brown series. Also at that event, the parliamentary friendship group announced the inaugural book to be read by the Parliamentary Book Club. I will use a prop for a second, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER: I say to the member for Moreton that you can in speeches. That is more permissible than— Mr PERRETT: Oh, it's question time; I beg your pardon, Speaker! A community campaign was launched about a month ago, asking everyone to nominate the book they would like their parliamentarian to read. The campaign reached close to one million people. Nominations were finalised and the winner, by a wide margin, was Bruce Pascoe's Dark Emu. I purchased my copy from the Parliament House Shop today, and I can't wait to start reading it. In fact, that will be my one hour of reading for Reading Hour 2019. In February, after members and senators have had the whole summer break to devour Dark Emu, the author and publishers will be invited to Parliament House to discuss the book from their perspective. Ms Madeleine King interjecting— Mr PERRETT: I will take that interjection. My books are on sale at the Parliamentary Book Club. I notice that they are 50 per cent off at the moment, actually. Ms Madeleine King: Is that right? I will get myself one. The SPEAKER: I'll take the appropriate action after the House adjourns. Mr PERRETT: I can't wait for the Dark Emu author and publisher to come up to Parliament House. It will be a great way to bring everyone in this place together—no matter what side of the House or the Senate they sit on—to discuss something apolitical, to share the perspective of the author and to have fun soaking in words and ideas. Everyone should start thinking about what the next book should be for the Parliamentary Book Club. Keep an eye on social media for the callout for the second book early next year. In the meantime, make sure you do your one hour of reading today for Reading Hour 2019—and hopefully reading will regularly form a part of your day. We are lucky to have so many great Australian authors writing great Australian books, so get to your local bookshop or library and get reading. On a different topic, I am going to touch on a great Australian rugby union side that's competing in Japan. I notice that the member for Hinkler is here. He is one of the co-captains of that team, which was successful against Argentina and South Africa, with the member for Hinkler and I playing, and the member for Solomon. Sadly, they went down in the grand final today, when the member for Hinkler and I weren't there. They played well but went down in a golden-point try, after being drawn at full time, to New Zealand, I'm sad to report.