Ms ADDISON (Wendouree) (19:37): I direct my adjournment matter to the Minister for Creative Industries, and the action that I seek is for him to visit my electorate of Wendouree to meet with the Ballarat International Foto Biennale artistic director, Fiona Sweet, and members of the board to discuss the 2021 Biennale.

The impact of COVID has been very significant on our creative industries, not just in Melbourne but in regional Victoria, including in my community of Ballarat. The 2021 Ballarat International Foto Biennale will provide an excellent opportunity for Victorians to visit Ballarat and the wider region and will provide a significant boost for the local economy.

The 2019 Ballarat International Foto Biennale was a huge success, boasting over 37 800 visitors—an increase of more than 10 000 visitors from the 2017 Biennale. Significantly, it contributed $7.27 million of direct economic impact to Ballarat over the two months from August to October 2019. The 2019 Biennale involved more than 150 artists, with over 190 core and open program exhibitions and events.

Importantly, the Ballarat International Foto Biennale aims to be accessible for all, with free entry for 99 per cent of events in 2019 and with 135 volunteers throughout the Biennale who provided an invaluable contribution to the festival.

I am really looking forward to welcoming the Minister for Creative Industries to Ballarat and the 2021 Ballarat International Foto Biennale, which opens on 27 August next year.

Read the Minister’s response here – or for more of my contributions in Parliament, click here.