Australian Ministers, MPs and Senators gathered at Parliament House in Canberra on the eve of International Literacy Day, to show their commitment to investing in Australia as a reading nation.
Co-hosted by Australia Reads, more than 30 of the country’s representatives, including Minister Jess Walsh, Minister Clare O’Neil, Senator David Pocock, and Dr Carina Garland MP, met as part of the Parliamentary Friends of Books & Reading.
They were joined by world-class Australian authors Sally Rippin, Chris Hammer, Robbie Arnott and Larissa Behrendt, and representatives from publishers, bookshops, libraries and education.
Photo credit: Ben Appleton/Photox
The event called for a national plan to increase reading rates, as Australia grapples with the need to increase rates of reading nationwide.
“This is something we can turn around as a country. We are an incredibly wealthy country, and when we turn our minds to something, we can do it,” said Senator David Pocock, a Co-Chair of the event.
“I’m really passionate about the issue of literacy, and of making sure we share Australian stories. We know that reading has so many benefits, including for social cohesion – when we read we are really putting ourselves in the shoes of another person, which allows us to gain valuable perspectives,” said fellow Co-Chair Dr Carina Garland MP.
“Thanks to the leadership of Dr Carina Garland MP, Senator David Pocock and the Parliamentary Friends of Books and Reading group, Australian Ministers, MPs and Senators are coming together to recognise the important role reading plays in our lives, and recognising the urgent support needed for reading in this country,” said Australia Reads CEO, Anna Burkey. “Together, we can turn the tide on reading decline in Australia, and ensure that more Australians have access to the life-changing benefits of reading.”
As part of the event at Parliament House, guests were invited to meet leading Australian authors and speak with booksellers to help ‘match-make’ them with a selection of great Australian books, generously supplied by Australian publishers.
Photo credit: Ben Appleton/Photox
The event was also an opportunity to share Australia Reads’ key policy recommendations to support reading, including national reading campaigns, and support for school libraries.
Australia Reads thanks our event partner Booktopia for supporting the event, and Haig Keyserian and Sophie Higgins for speaking with guests about the value of bookselling and the importance of reading.
We also thank Writing Australia and our founding partners at the Australian Publishers Association (APA), Australian Booksellers Association (ABA), Australian Library and Information Service (ALIA), Australian Society of Authors (ASA) and the Copyright Agency for supporting the event.
Thanks to our photography partner Photox, advocacy partner Books Create Australia and the team at Delta Advisory for helping make the event a success.
And lastly, a big thank you to our wide community of reading advocates who encouraged their local MPs and Senators to join us for the event.
Explore the full photo gallery here and share your photos with your networks! (Photo credit: Ben Appleton/Photox)