Mrs SALLY QUINNELL (Camden) (18:21): I talk today about how important it is that we all work together to support local arts projects in our electorates. I have been discussing with my friend in the other place the Minister for the Arts the importance of local musical theatre projects, and I can say with confidence that the Minns Labor Government is fully committed to supporting local arts. Local arts have the power to change communities. I have seen children that I have taught flourish in school music programs and community organisations instead of being caught up in, shall we say, less desirable extracurriculars. Local school music programs keep kids in school and engage them, not leave them on autopilot.

Prioritising local arts keeps communities alive. Places like Engadine, Randwick and, of course, Camden thrive off the joy that local arts bring to our communities. I was grateful to receive an invitation by the member for Heathcote to watch a local performance in her electorate. I was extremely impressed by the level of talent on offer—not quite as amazing as Camden, but still pretty good, nevertheless. Local arts projects stimulate growth in our communities as well, particularly in our outer metro regions. People come from all across Sydney and the Southern Highlands to watch Camden performances, especially from amazing organisations like the Camden Community Band and the Camden Musical Society.

Tourists not only support our local arts organisations but also stop for coffee or a meal at the local cafe for breakfast, have lunch at the local pub and take a quick tour of the Australian Botanic Gardens at Mount Annan before popping in to watch the Camden Musical Society's recent amazing show Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. That is what local arts can do for our communities. It can tackle the tough conversations like homelessness and climate change. It allows for local issues to be driven forward in spectacular ways. Musical theatre, in particular, has affected so much change over the years and brought to light really important issues.

We must start protecting our local artists. For far too long, local artists have been told things like, "I can pay you in experience", or "I can pay you in exposure." No other industry allows for that degree of normalised free labour. That is why I thank the Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy for not only standing up for the interests of performers but also ensuring that, after 12 years of inaction, New South Wales finally has a government that cares about local artists. Our local artists do not just need pay. Many of my constituents are involved in community organisations that want to support the community through their passions, but they do not have the rehearsal spaces to do so.

I have been contacted by numerous performers begging for rehearsal spaces in Camden and they keep hitting brick walls. Those artists are crying out for local accessible spaces to rehearse and perform but, as with many issues that Camden faced under the Coalition, infrastructure has not kept up with development. It is incumbent on all of us in this place to listen to our artists. I cannot understand why the former Government did not, but now it is our job. We need to treat artists like the lifeblood of our communities, because in all honesty they are.