Tom French (Moore, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In times of uncertainty, when households are feeling the pressure of rising costs and when the pace of events around the world can sometimes feel unsettling, it is often the arts that quietly help carry us through. They give us stories that help us make sense of the world, they create moments of joy and connection and, importantly, they provide opportunities for people to learn, create and experience culture without needing deep pockets. In my electorate of Moore, we are fortunate to have a vibrant cultural community supported by outstanding local institutions. One of the most important of these is our local library network. Across Moore, we have four fantastic libraries: Duncraig, Joondalup, Whitford and Woodvale. Every day, they provide something incredibly valuable: free access to knowledge, culture and creativity.

I can report that, this morning, I signed up for the City of Joondalup's library services online. It only took a few minutes, and I immediately unlocked access to a remarkable range of digital resources. Libraries today are not what people imagine them to be. The old stereotype of quiet buildings full of dusty shelves has long since passed. Modern libraries are dynamic, digital and deeply connected to the communities they serve. Through the City of Joondalup's library system, residents can access an extraordinary range of online resources entirely free of charge. Platforms like Libby allow people to borrow ebooks and audiobooks from home. Kanopy provides access to thousands of films and documentaries. Hoopla offers movies, music, comics and television shows. Ancestry.com allows residents to explore their family history and discover the stories that shaped the generations before them. At a time when subscription services seem to multiply every year and monthly bills quickly add up, these resources offer genuine value for families.

Importantly, the library ensures that everyone can access them. If the technology feels daunting, residents can simply book an appointment with the library's friendly team, who will sit them down and show them how to download an ebook, stream a film or start exploring their family history online. Libraries across Australia are evolving this way.

In fact, earlier today, I was fortunate enough to visit the National Library of Australia, just a short walk from this chamber. The visit was a powerful reminder of just how much libraries have evolved. While the National Library continues its vital role in preserving Australia's written history, it now also provides vast digital collections, photographs, oral history, archives and research materials for all Australians. As a member of the Joint Standing Committee on the Parliamentary Library, I see firsthand how important modern information services are in ensuring Australians can access knowledge in new and evolving ways.

The arts are not only found in libraries. Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of attending the opening of the Joondalup Festival at the Joondalup Contemporary Art Gallery. The opening exhibition featured rare photographs of David Bowie by Christine de Grancy and was a powerful reminder of the way art captures moments in time and tells stories that resonate across generations. The Joondalup Festival itself has become one of the cultural highlights of Perth's northern suburbs. Importantly, it includes a wide range of free community events and outdoor performances, ensuring families can come together to experience the arts without having to worry about costs.

Recently, I also had the opportunity to host Susan Templeman, the Special Envoy for the Arts, in Joondalup, bringing together a cross-section of our local arts community. What stood out was the extraordinary talent, passion and commitment that exists in our community but also the very real challenges that the sector is facing. There was also a strong and clear message about the importance of fit-for-purpose cultural infrastructure as our region continues to grow. Joondalup is increasingly recognised as Western Australia's second CBD. If we are serious about that vision, we must also invest in the cultural infrastructure that brings a city to life. As I said in my inaugural speech, culture is infrastructure too because, in times like these, the arts do more than entertain. They bring people together, they strengthen communities and they help remind us that, even in uncertain times, creativity and culture help carry us forward.