David Moncrieff (Hughes, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The southern Sydney community is brimming with creative and artistic talent, especially from our young people. One of my favourite displays of this talent is ARTEXPRESS, which features a selection of exceptional student artworks created for the art-making component of the HSC examination in visual arts. I was so excited to be at Hazelhurst Arts Centre in Sutherland Shire, alongside Sutherland Shire Mayor Jack Boyd, for the official opening of ARTEXPRESS 2026. ARTEXPRESS is the annual exhibition showcasing outstanding bodies of work submitted for the HSC examination in visual arts by students from across New South Wales, and Hazelhurst has been presenting it since 2004.

This year, the students' works were absolutely mind-blowing. The exhibition featured 51 students from across the state, including seven from southern Sydney schools, with students pushing aesthetic, conceptual and formal boundaries across drawing, painting, ceramics, photomedia, time based forms, graphic design, sculpture and printmaking. Walking through the gallery, I was struck by how much maturity and ambition was on display.

ARTEXPRESS is now in its 43rd year, selected from the cohort of over 9,000 students who completed the 2025 HSC visual arts course. I want to wish special congratulations to Grace Wilson from Inaburra High School, Elliana Clarke from Shire Christian School and Christopher Foster from Bonnet Bay on what were some truly inspiring works.

I had the chance to chat to Christopher about his creative process for his work Cursive Curlicues and the way that he utilised the oxidation of copper to influence its form. Christopher and all these young artists are taking their lived experiences, their identity, their culture, their environment and the issues that define their generation and channelling them into work that is honest, original and incredibly moving. I encourage everyone in southern Sydney to get along to Hazlehurst Arts Centre and see this free exhibition before it closes on 12 April.

I want to honour the Australia Day Honours recipients from across the Hughes electorate. Gwen Cherne received the Member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to veterans and their families. Kelly Wren was recognised for her extraordinary service to tennis, basketball and athletes with an intellectual disability. Ian Holmes was honoured for his service to football. John Spence was recognised for his service to sport. And Alen Stajcic received his OAM for his service to football as a coach.

I welcomed a few of these recipients to my office for afternoon tea to congratulate them on their amazing work and thank them for all they're doing in the community. I also welcomed the family of the late Mark Berkovich to my office, who received a posthumous Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the community through a range of community organisations. We were also joined by Australian Police Medal recipients, including Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Bell of Como and Chief Inspector Rodney Pratt of Maianbar, who were recognised with the APM for their distinguished service in law enforcement. Congratulations to all the recipients and thank you for your work in the community.