Lismore's Living Library

Mr THOMAS GEORGE (Lismore) [8.34 p.m.]: I have a very good news story tonight about how things can start from someone coming along and making good representations to the local member. Sabina Baltruweit approached me 15 or 16 months ago. She is a migrant who came with her mother to live in Lismore, and she is doing a mighty job trying to bring the community together. She told me of a living library overseas. I listened to her and, coming from a migrant family myself, I thought this would be a tremendous project. I took her case to Shauna McIntyre, who works with Lismore City Council. She picked up the idea and it became a reality. It became a reality because the Lismore City Council got behind it through the efforts of Shauna McIntyre and her team. Mayor Merv King and the councillors of Lismore also got right behind Lismore's living library.

What is a living library? It is a book of human beings. Their motto is "Don't judge a book by its cover". I became the patron of this organisation. I was not granted that position because I was the local member. It was probably because of my enthusiasm and, coming from a migrant background, I could see the benefits of it. I am very proud of the achievements of this innovative model in bringing people from diverse backgrounds closer together through conversation. I will explain simply what happens. A person goes into the library—and the idea has the support of the Lismore City Library as well—dressed in an apron with "Book" written on it. People come in off the street, book that person and sit and talk to them for half an hour. That has really broken down the barriers.

People from all walks of life and from different nationalities have acted as books. The library has just celebrated its first anniversary. I had the pleasure of cutting the cake and saying a few words to congratulate those involved, along with the Mayor of Lismore, Councillor Merv King, who presented a plaque to Lismore's Living Library, which is Australia's first. Since this library got underway on 2 November, 12 months ago, 50 new libraries have opened up around Australia. It has taken off and it is breaking down the barriers, in the sense that people are conversing with each other. They are not writing letters, they are sitting there talking to each other, and that is breaking down the barriers.

The Community Relations Commission was represented at the anniversary celebrations, as it was at the launch. Its Director of Regional Services, Fadel Benhima, who came up from Wollongong, was very complimentary. A Muslim living book, Hadia, and a reader spoke on the day about what it was like to be part of this living library. Also there were Lucy Kingsley and her team from the Lismore City Library. All of the living books were there and I presented them with certificates. The Federal Government realised the wisdom of this project recently and gave $150,000 to spread the idea right across Australia. As I said, 50 other libraries have started.

The living library is fast taking off around Australia and the world as a different kind of community engagement and diversity education—one that is personal and authentic. Southern Cross University held a living library day at its university recently. The many international students at Southern Cross University thoroughly enjoyed it. It is bringing the community together. I congratulate the team at Lismore's Living Library on its first anniversary. As I said, do not judge a book by its cover. The team has done a tremendous job of spreading the word around Australia. I am pleased that Australia's first living library was established in Lismore. I congratulate everyone, and I wish the living library a happy birthday for 2 November.