Vivid Sydney

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-97772

Hansard session: Fifty-Sixth Parliament, First Session (56-1)

Vivid Sydney

Mr JOHN SIDOTI (Drummoyne) (11:50:32):

I move:

That this House:

(1)Notes Vivid Sydney returns this Friday night, running for 23 nights until 17 June 2017.

(2)Notes Vivid Sydney is now the largest event in Australia, attracting visitors from around the world and making a huge impact on the New South Wales economy.

(3)Notes In 2016, a record 2.31 million people attended Vivid Sydney, contributing more than $110 million in visitor spending to the New South Wales economy and is the envy of other States and cities around the world.

Tomorrow at 6.00 p.m. the lights will be turned on for Vivid Sydney 2017. In just nine years Vivid Sydney has firmly established itself as Australia's largest event. It has been instrumental in transforming what is traditionally a quiet period for the city's tourism industry into a thriving period that is the envy of other States and cities right across the world. Many try to replicate it but they simply cannot: Vivid is Sydney. Vivid Sydney not only puts our fantastic city on the map but also provides a significant injection into the State's visitor economy.

Of the record 2.31 million attendees at last year's festival, more than 184,000 were international and domestic visitors, including more than 17,800 visitors from China, a key and ever-growing market for tourism in New South Wales. The economic benefits of this visitation are significant. Last year Vivid Sydney facilitated more than $110 million in visitor spend to the New South Wales economy. Vivid Sydney is also important to regional New South Wales. Many of the 184,000 domestic and international visitors who came to Vivid Sydney travelled on to regional New South Wales, delivering an additional 65,000 room nights and $11.5 million in visitor expenditure.

This year's festival will once again bring together the world's leading creative minds, and it promises to delight audiences with a stellar program of light, music and ideas. Under the stewardship of the festival's creative director, Ignatius Jones, and the New South Wales Government's tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, Vivid Sydney promises to once again be a festival which has something to offer for everybody. In 2017 there is once again a stellar schedule, with more than 380 Vivid Music events which will be held across the city alongside 280 Vivid Idea events.

Audio Creatures

As in every past year, the sails of the Sydney Opera House will be the setting of a magnificent display of cutting-edge projection art. This year the honour goes to acclaimed cinematographer, editor and graphic designer Mr Ash Bolland who, in a co-curation with the Sydney Opera House, has been chosen to light the sails for Vivid Sydney 2017. Mr Bolland brings an array of creative talents to the festival and will present the story . A series of living, breathing imaginary creatures will come to life on the sails. Inspiration for the creatures has been taken from the natural environment, including insect life, plant life and the ocean underworld. This creation will show the creatures interacting with our environment and changing in their world, moving between each other and morphing on the Opera House sails. This will be a spectacular sight to behold and one that I am sure will delight audiences.

In 2017 Vivid Sydney will also shine brightly for the first time at Barangaroo, Sydney's newest central business district precinct. Barangaroo will be joined by festival favourite, the Vivid Light Walk, as well as displays at Chatswood, Martin Place, Darling Harbour and Taronga Zoo, plus an expanded trail through the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. In addition to the light displays, this year's festival features a diverse line-up of music which will include performances by trailblazing UK electronic dance outfit Goldfrapp, folk-rock masters Fleet Foxes, indie rock band Dappled Cities, and Grammy Award-winning jazz singer Dianne Reeves. The festival also includes the Game‑Changers Talk Series with American contemporary artist Shepard Fairey, BuzzFeed founder Jonah Peretti and Academy Award-winning director Oliver Stone.

With all of these fantastic events on offer, Vivid Sydney 2017 will surely be bigger and better than ever. This year will also see an additional 9,000 public transport services running throughout the duration of Vivid Sydney to cater for the growing number of visitors to the festival. This will assist in enabling visitors to plan ahead to spend more than one night at Vivid Sydney and, importantly, to leave the car at home. I acknowledge the hard work undertaken by Mr Jones and his team of curators, the team at Destination NSW and all of the festival's contributors, which will make Vivid Sydney 2017 bigger and better than ever before. Every member of this House should be incredibly proud of the success and achievements of this festival, which is an important asset for driving visitor expenditure in the State's economy. I encourage every member of this House to support this motion and acknowledge the hard work of all those who ensure Vivid Sydney is the premier festival event in Australia and the world.

Ms JENNY AITCHISON (Maitland) (11:56:42):

I am proud to support Vivid Sydney. It is a proud achievement of New South Wales Labor, introduced under former Premier Nathan Rees. I note the laughter of the member for Drummoyne, because his side of the House railed against Vivid Sydney when it was first introduced. Those opposite did not support it and did not have the vision for it. As with most of the visionary things that have been done in New South Wales, this Government had to be persuaded, cajoled and led to doing positive things. Tomorrow my husband, who works in a tour operation company—I no longer own one—will bring people from regional New South Wales to Sydney to experience the beauty and joy of Vivid in this city. It is definitely a time when Sydney shines at its brightest. The whole city is lit up. It is a really great thing for regional tourists to enjoy. Sydney is a beautiful place to enjoy at that time.

Mr Mark Coure:

And Chatswood. And Parramatta.

Ms JENNY AITCHISON:

It would be great if members on the Government side could stop interjecting, because I have serious things to say about this motion. Unlike those opposite, I see Vivid Sydney as an important economic contributor to the State of New South Wales and to our tourism industry. I also want to speak about the real issues in tourism in this State. While it is great to acknowledge the contribution of Vivid to Sydney's tourist industry and to some of the domestic operators that bring people to Sydney to experience Vivid, and how Vivid provides for expansion of the tourist dollar into other areas, for some time Destination NSW has had a focus on Sydney and has not extended the same support to the regions.

I mention some of the jewels of regional New South Wales: The Hunter, where I am from, the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast; the mid-North Coast, Port Stephens; and the outback of this State, the big sky country. Last weekend I was in Broken Hill with some members of the National Party who were having a meeting. I talked to local tourism operators such as Scott Smith, who runs the very successful Tri State Safaris. In my former life as a tourism operator I was aware that his company used to beat me to the post for the New South Wales Tourism Awards.

Mr John Sidoti:

No!

Ms JENNY AITCHISON:

Yes, it is true, member for Drummoyne, we did not always come first in tourism. Scott Smith now runs the Broken Hill icon, Tri State Safaris. Broken Hill has been an international tourism destination and a great product not only for our State but also for Australia. He told me that he was at the Australian Tourism Exchange last week and many operators were asking where Broken Hill is in the international tourism literature. Four or five years ago it was in all of the international offerings but it seems that now the focus is on Sydney. There is a philosophy in tourism that if people are brought to Sydney they will disperse from there throughout the State. As the former owner of a company which took tours to more cities, towns, villages and national parks in New South Wales than any other company I have to say that one does not just arrive in Sydney and pop out to Broken Hill for a couple of hours. Those on the other side of the House, who do not seem to go outside the greater Chatswood area of Sydney, do not realise that there is a big world out there.

There is a big blue sky country in New South Wales tourism, which is something that they should be supporting and helping. I urge those members of the National Party who were in Broken Hill last week who understand the beauty of that regional capital, to think about how they will support that city. Scott Smith has a very interesting idea, which I will share with the House, and that is having a Vivid for Broken Hill. We would be able not just to see the city landscape, the beautiful buildings of Sydney colourfully lit up, but to take in the natural colours of an area like Broken Hill—the desert landscape colours, the amazing blue skies, the red earth and the green grasses—and highlight them during the night with some amazing light works to draw tourism into the area. It is important to properly harness tourism coming to Sydney. There has not been enough funding for destinations outside Sydney.

The regional benefits of tourism have been ignored by this Government and tour operators across the State are suffering as a result. Labor celebrates and congratulates all those who are involved in Vivid and who support this groundbreaking New South Wales festival started by Labor—which we supported against the protestations of members opposite. We ask this Government to allocate funds to regional destinations because the multiplier effect of putting dollars into regional tourism is astronomical. It creates jobs in regional towns—which is something that no-one on the other side of the House actually cares about; they just pay lip service to it. The Government should be addressing that immediately.

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (12:03:55):

There is just over a day until the lights come on for Vivid Sydney 2017. This year's program is set to be bigger, better and brighter than ever, and nowhere will it be brighter than in my own electorate of North Shore with Taronga Vivid's Lights for the Wild. As we count down to opening night, preparations are in their final stages. Special effects are being tested, kilometres of cable and fibre optics are being rolled out, thousands of lights have been installed and Vivid-themed menus are being finessed by Sydney's top chefs and restaurateurs

There is so much to see and do this year, whether one is a first-time visitor to Vivid or a seasoned expert. We have a new precinct at Barangaroo South, an expanded light walk through the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney, imaginary creatures that will transform the sails of the Sydney Opera House, and of course the spectacular interactive lighting of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and city skyscrapers. In my electorate of North Shore we have Vivid Sydney's wildest precinct, Taronga Zoo, returning for another year. Last year we saw Vivid at the zoo for the first time and it was such an overwhelming success, with more than 80,000 visitors, that it is returning in 2017 with an expanded display.

The colourful cast of giant, illuminated endangered animal sculptures that thrilled visitors of all ages will again be on display, with new additions and surprises, including my personal favourite, a 20-metre walk through a Port Jackson shark named PJ. Members in this place may find the experience of being in the belly of a shark familiar and I encourage them all to come out and enjoy it. Other newcomers will include an animated pelican, a family of silverback gorillas, a Tasmanian Devil with its baby and a swarm of buzzing bees. After the permanent zoo residents have retired for the night, this exciting Vivid Sydney precinct will delight visitors as it tells an important tale about conservation, with the lanterns raising awareness of the plight of these creatures in the wild and how we can all help and support Taronga's valuable work. To further this important message, all ticket proceeds go directly to support conservation work and wildlife care.

Last night I joined with other Friends of the Zoo to preview this year's Taronga Vivid and the experience was unforgettable. We are fortunate to have Taronga in our backyard. I acknowledge and thank Cameron Kerr, chief executive and director, and Stephanie Hedt, executive officer, for showing me the exhibits last night and sharing their message of Lights for the Wild. I recognise also the nearly 200 volunteers who constantly support the zoo but in particular play an invaluable role in delivering Taronga Vivid to the community. Nearby Chatswood also has an amazing line-up of installations. Vivid will morph Chatswood into a steampunk-themed world, where technology and light fuse with nineteenth century steam-powered machinery. Interactive light installations will transform the Chatswood CBD into a funky, smart city complete with people-powered steam engines, a giant drumming octopus, underwater worlds and sustainable cities perched in the sky as the bustling precinct is reinvented. There is so much to offer locally in those two precincts and beyond.

There will be 90 light installations and projects created by 180 artists from eight countries. I encourage all members to take some time over the next 23 days to explore this incredible festival which is proudly owned, managed and produced by the New South Wales Government's tourism and major events agency, Destination New South Wales. All members are very welcome to join me in North Shore, and I hope to see them all visiting the unique and spectacular exhibits at Taronga Zoo.

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (12:07:56):

Tomorrow at 6.00 p.m. the lights will be turned on for Vivid Sydney 2017. Just look at the numbers in the Chamber: there are eight Government members who back Vivid, and of course the Assistant Speaker, and from the Opposition and the crossbench parties there is one.

Ms Jenny Aitchison:

Point of Order: My point of order is under Standing Order 73.

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER:

It would want to be a good one.

Ms Jenny Aitchison:

I actually am the good one.

Mr MARK COURE:

To the point of order: I think the member for Maitland has misled the House.

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER:

The member for Maitland should check Standing Order 73.

Mr MARK COURE:

Members on this side of the House have taken Vivid to a new high. In just nine years, Vivid Sydney has firmly established itself as Australia's largest event thanks to this Government. It has been instrumental in transforming what was traditionally a quiet period for the city's tourism industry into a thriving period that is the envy of other states and cities around the world. Many try to replicate it, but they simply cannot. Vivid is Sydney because of members on this side of the House. Vivid Sydney not only puts our fantastic city on the map but it also provides a significant injection of money into the State's visitor economy—once again, thanks to members on this side of the House. There were 2.31 million attendees at last year's festival, including my wife and me and our then two-year-old son, James. There were more than 184,000 international and domestic visitors, including more than 17,800 from China, which is a key and ever-growing market for tourism in New South Wales.

Of course, the economic benefit of tourist visitation is significant. Last year's Vivid Sydney resulted in more than $110 million in visitor spend for our economy, thanks to the Liberal-Nationals Coalition Government. We on this side of the House love Vivid and we want to grow the economy. We want to see more visitors to Sydney because what is good for Sydney is good for the economy. It is also good for taxi operators, restaurants and hotels. The member for Maitland has done nothing but interject during my speech, demonstrating her lack of support for Vivid. Unlike her, Government members support Vivid. The member for Maitland has also upset the people now leaving the public gallery.

Ms Jenny Aitchison:

Point of order: My point of order relates to Standing Order 73. The member for Oatley said that I do not support Vivid.

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER:

Order! There is no point of order. The member for Maitland will resume her seat and cease interjecting.

Mr MARK COURE:

Members on this side of the House have expanded Vivid. Last year was an amazing event, and this year will be even better because of the efforts of Government members

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER:

Order! The member for Maitland is the only member of the Opposition in the Chamber. The member is making enough noise for all of her colleagues. The member will desist, and if she does not I will put her on a call and I will remove her from the Chamber for the rest of the day.

Mr JAMES GRIFFIN (Manly) (12:12:52):

It is a pleasure to support Vivid Sydney and the member for Drummoyne's motion. Over the past nine years, Vivid Sydney has cemented itself as the premier winter event in Australia. More than 38 music events and 280 ideas events will be happening in Sydney over the next 23 days. The ferry I travel on to get home to Manly leaves from Circular Quay. For the $7.80 cost of a one-way ticket to Manly—that is often what people buy because they never want to leave—I have enjoyed watching the lights flashing up on the Opera House and on the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the Vivid Festival.

Time

This year the festival is expanding its traditional light and music program to include an ideas and speakers series. I am looking forward to hearing from Shepard Fairey, a contemporary artist who rose to prominence by designing the iconic "Hope" poster for President Obama. He has twice designed magazine front covers celebrating the person of the year. The 2011 cover celebrated "The Protester". He has also contributed to the Surfrider Foundation.

Wall StreetJFKNixon

The famous producer and screen writer Oliver Stone will also be part of the festival this year. He has produced and written some fantastic films such as , , , a biopic on George W. Bush, and more recently the film about Edward Snowden. He provides great political commentary through art and film and it is privilege to welcome him to Sydney to be part of Vivid. Vivid Sydney this year will be bigger and better than ever. The New South Wales tourism and events agency Destination NSW and the Vivid team should be thanked, as should the festival's creative director, Ignatius Jones, and his team. It is also important to thank the support staff and volunteers who make Vivid such a success.

The ongoing and considerable success of Vivid is clearly evident. In 2017, it will make its way to Barangaroo, which is Sydney's newest precinct. It will also be in Martin Place, Darling Harbour, Taronga Zoo and Chatswood. It would be fantastic if next year Vivid came to Manly. As I said, it costs $7.80 for a one-way ferry ticket to Manly. Bringing Vivid to Manly is certainly something on which I will be working. Not only is Vivid a good time in New South Wales and in Sydney but it is also a smart investment because it generates a fantastic economic return for the State. I commend this motion to the House.

Mr JIHAD DIB (Lakemba) (12:16:28):

I would have preferred it if we were debating the motion about schools rather than this Dorothy Dix motion. I acknowledge then Premier Nathan Rees and the member for Strathfield, Jodi McKay, who initiated the Vivid Sydney Festival. I am wearing the best Vivid tie I have, but it is not as good as the tie the member for Drummoyne wore yesterday. It is important that no one person take credit for this festival. Anything that sees more tourism dollars being spent in New South Wales is a good thing. We should all celebrate the fact that the festival was first held eight years ago and that it gets bigger and better each year.

I am looking forward to enjoying Vivid Sydney again this year. Only yesterday I said to my wife and children that we should see the lights. We will do that during the week because the city is extremely busy over the weekend during the festival. I congratulate the organisers for including Taronga Zoo in the program this year. Having it at Manly next year is a good idea, but there are many iconic places across Sydney and regional New South Wales that would benefit from hosting the event. It should be expanded to become a festival of lights across New South Wales. My electorate of Lakemba would love to be included in the program. We could have an installation on the Cooks River.

We should not limit our imaginations. As I said, no party can take credit for a festival like this that benefits the State as a whole. If it means we encourage tourists to spend money across the State, that is a great thing. It could even be extended to your electorate, Mr Assistant Speaker. I can imagine what could be done with lights in Coffs Harbour. Even the Big Banana could be lit up.

I make the point that sometimes it is the importance of an idea that counts, and this is the great thing about public service: a person or a group can come up with an idea and over the years we continually improve that, and this is what we are seeing at the moment. I am not going to stand here and say that Vivid is a bad thing, it is a terrific thing, because it benefits everybody and I suggest that we try to expand it as much as possible to take not only the Sydney Basin, but also regional New South Wales. Then it would become not just Vivid for Sydney but Vivid New South Wales. This would be the festival of lights of New South Wales where we celebrate what we have; where we can see all of the State's iconic places.

Can members imagine how beautiful country towns would be if they were to light up, in particular, those old buildings that are heritage listed? How beautiful would they be with the lights playing on the sandstone? There is so much that we can do. Everybody loves seeing the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge lit up. We need to make sure that we see it across the board. Congratulations to the then Minister, Jodie McKay, the then Premier Nathan Rees and, of course, the successive governments who have kept on improving Vivid.

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER:

I thank the member for Lakemba for a positive contribution.

Mr BRUCE NOTLEY-SMITH (Coogee) (12:21:01):

By leave: I am the first one in the queue to see Vivid, I am just champing at the bit. I cannot wait. Your enthusiasm, member for Oatley, is infectious. It is a great celebration of Sydney. There were 2.31 million attendees at last year's festival, 84,000 of those were international and domestic visitors to Sydney, including more than 17,800 from China alone. That is just outstanding. The festival accounted for 65,000 additional room nights in accommodation across New South Wales and $11.5 million in visitor expenditure. This is a great festival of Sydney and with a creative director such as Ignatius Jones, we just cannot go wrong. The man is a genius. Those at Destination NSW—Sandra Chipchase is an amazing chief executive officer of that organisation—have turbocharged, even supercharged, New South Wales's visitor economy over the years since 2011. In many ways Vivid could be a metaphor for the stewardship of this State under the Liberal-National Government since 2011. Each year it gets bigger, brighter, more colourful and more successful than ever. It just continues to grow.

Mr Adam Crouch:

More ideas.

Mr BRUCE NOTLEY-SMITH:

That is right, more ideas. I note the positive contribution of the member for Lakemba opposite in contrast to that given by the member for Maitland. I notice that there is a trail-blazing United Kingdom electronic dance outfit, Goldfrapp and folk-rock masters, Fleet Foxes, et cetera. There is no Brian Eno, as suggested by Nathan Rees. I give him his due, Vivid did start under his premiership, but look what they did to Nathan Rees. If Labor had been running Vivid Sydney for the past six years it would be "Vapid Sydney" by now. People would go to it and they would be drained. They would feel as though they had had the life sucked out of them, rather than been inspired. It is great that Vivid just continues to spread further and further across Sydney and benefits the whole State—into the North Shore, into Barangaroo, and maybe next year down into Oatley. I cannot wait to get out there tomorrow night and start to wander around. I remember going out to see Vivid in 2011, but every year it has continued to get better, and this year will be absolutely outstanding.

Mr ADAM CROUCH (Terrigal) (12:25:04):

By leave: I am excited. Tomorrow night, on 26 May, I will be excited, as Sydney lights up. I thank the member for Drummoyne for bringing forward this fantastic motion; I acknowledge the member for North Shore for her great contributions and the member for Oatley. What oratory; he is so passionate about Vivid. I also acknowledge the member for Manly, who obviously has a vision for Vivid for Manly, and also the member for Coogee. What a great contribution he made. My vision goes even further—Vivid at the Skillion. We need Vivid in Terrigal. Let us keep moving north. The member for Manly wants Vivid in Manly and I have the same vision for Vivid at the Central Coast. It has migrated north to Chatswood, so let us keep that momentum going, moving it forward. What a fantastic event.

Last year there were 2.3 million visitors, injecting more than $110 million into the visitor economy. It is just unfortunate that in 2011 when, under the Labor Party, Sydney was closed, Vivid was a shadow of what it is today. Since 2011 under the Liberal-Nationals Government, we have seen a 24 per cent increase in the patronage of Vivid and this is full credit to the drive and enthusiasm of the Ministers for Tourism and the passion of this Government to deliver a fantastic Vivid, for not just the people of Sydney, but for the people of the world. I am delighted that so many people from the Central Coast, thousands in fact, make the journey down to see Vivid.

I note the member for Oatley said earlier that he, Adla and James went to see Vivid last year. I am sure James said to him, "Daddy, our Government has delivered a wonderful Vivid. I am so proud of you, dad." I am so proud of the people of the Central Coast. I am one of those people who makes the journey down to Vivid. Jill and I came down to see Vivid last year and we look forward to making the journey again, along with thousands of Central Coast people. But again, the real Vivid would be wonderful—to have the Skillion lit up for 23 days, along with other fantastic iconic areas around the Central Coast.

As the member for Lakemba said quite rightly, we have people in this Chamber with drive, enthusiasm, vision and passion. I am sure the member for Tamworth would love to have Vivid in Tamworth. There should be regional Vivids. Let us not stop at Chatswood. Let us roll Vivid out across the whole of New South Wales. If any government has the passion, the drive and the ability to deliver Vivid, it is this New South Wales Liberal-Nationals Government. Vivid Sydney delights millions from around the world. As we heard earlier from other members, there were 184,000 visitors from interstate and overseas last year, 17,000 of whom have come directly from China. This goes to show that people around the world see Vivid as a wonderful opportunity to visit this fantastic State, visit this beautiful city and hopefully venture outside the bounds of the Sydney central business district to rural and regional areas such as the Central Coast and the Tweed.

Obviously, they will spend plenty of time visiting the beautiful zoo at Taronga. Vivid Sydney will obviously be going to greater heights with Barangaroo now joining the festival favourites, with the Vivid light walk, the display now in Chatswood, the stunning display in Martin Place, the display in Darling Harbour and, as mentioned by the member for North Shore, the display at Taronga Zoo. I encourage the people on the Central Coast to make the journey to Vivid Sydney over the next 23 days. Hopefully in the future we will have Vivid Central Coast.

Mr JONATHAN O'DEA (Davidson) (12:29:23):

By leave: As has been mentioned a number of times, Vivid Sydney 2017 will be launched tomorrow evening, Friday 26 May, and will run until 17 June. I have been delighted to be involved in Vivid over the past couple of years, in particular as the former Parliamentary Secretary for Major Events and Tourism. I acknowledge the great work of Destination NSW, which has support from both sides of this House. Vivid Sydney is again visiting the Willoughby council area at Chatswood, and this year's installations will have a dramatic and lasting impact. I look forward to attending the Vivid lights on opening at The Concourse at Chatswood tomorrow evening, together with Mayor Gail Giles-Gidney and local councillors, particularly as my electorate now includes parts of the Willoughby City Council area following the boundary redistribution at the last State election.

I note the comments of some members in this House, including the member for Lakemba and the member for Terrigal, about the desirability of expanding Vivid into their local areas. I suggest that they lobby their local councils to get on board and support Vivid, including financially, because that is how Willoughby council has successfully expanded Vivid into its region. The council put up resources, including financial resources, and its efforts have benefitted the community. I suggest that members who want to see an expansion into their electorates speak with Destination NSW and secure the support of their local councils.

Vivid is an exciting, family-friendly initiative and its return to Chatswood will see that central business district [CBD] transformed by light sculptures and retro-futuristic installations, inspired by nineteenth‑century steam‑powered machinery. This includes Octopoda, which will invite people to interact by being part of its tentacle percussion ensemble. It features eight tentacle drums and has unique displays of colour and light. Other exciting installations include Voxelscape at the Chatswood Interchange, which has more than 9,000 glowing spheres; Gear Shift, which is an interactive projection of a pumping steam engine; and Crossword, which will send hidden light messages. Chatswood Chase will feature Light Bounce, which encourages the public to enjoy a sparkling forest of refractive light.

In other parts of Sydney, there will be a large number of events comprising exciting lights, music and ideas to amuse and astound visitors. For me, the focus on ideas has been one of the most exciting aspects of Vivid because it means that innovative and challenging new thoughts are on show. Vivid has expanded significantly since its inception as the Smart Light Sydney festival. It attracts a huge number of people to Sydney—more than 2.3 million visitors last year—and injects more than $110 million. Visitor numbers have continued to grow every year. I will not repeat figures that have been mentioned by previous speakers but I do reinforce the importance of visitor numbers for rural and regional New South Wales. That is a strong focus of the Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Adam Marshall. The Minister is doing a great job. I welcome the expansion of the festival to the Barangaroo district and I look forward to the 23-day celebration of creativity. I urge everyone to enjoy this wonderful festival of light, music and ideas before it concludes on 17 June.

Mr JAI ROWELL (Wollondilly) (12:33:36):

By leave: I note for the benefit of the member for Wallsend and other members on the Opposition benches that I am the last speaker for my side before the speech in reply. I am very proud of the Government which, in the past six years, has brought Vivid from its initial conception to the fantastic, record-breaking event that it is today. It just gets bigger and better each year. The member for North Shore said that it has grown into her electorate, including at Taronga Zoo. I certainly look forward to seeing the sharks there—it sometimes feels as though we have illuminated sharks in this place, even though it is known as the bear pit.

Mr John Sidoti:

They're not vivid here.

Mr JAI ROWELL:

There are some colourful and delightful people in this place too. A number of members who have contributed to this debate have asked, "What about the regions? What about the rural, regional and remote areas?" In my electorate, we have some fantastic groups like Destination Southern Highlands and Wollondilly Shire Council which, in partnership with the New South Wales Government, do an amazing job in respect to tourism. Destination Southern Highlands has won many national awards for its work in regional tourism. I recently spoke with the Hon. Adam Marshall and the Wollondilly mayor Judy Hannan about further investment in our region.

An event of which I am very proud is IlluminARTe—Wollondilly's equivalent to Vivid. This initiative of Wollondilly Shire Council, which has been held for the past three years, is supported by the New South Wales Government. The district has a population of just over 50,000, yet IlluminARTe has attracted 25,000 people to the main street of Picton. This patronage is particularly important this year as it is just one year on from the storms that devastated the area. The festival has helped to revitalise Picton. The event has something for people of all ages. Spectators enjoy a remarkable cultural experience combined with breathtaking performing arts, local music, market stalls and food vendors.

As night falls, the free family entertainment encourages visitors, locals, friends and families to stroll through the picturesque town of Picton, taking in the enchanting ambience as an amazing range of local artworks are projected onto landmark buildings to illuminate this historic town. In the days leading up to the event, the fantastic Wollondilly Arts Group, together with local artists, holds a three-day art exhibition at Picton Shire Hall, showcasing the rich talent of the area. I was pleased to be able to secure a grant for the group to upgrade the exhibition area. The Picton Chamber of Commerce has partnered with council to hold a family fun day at Picton RSL Club. The kids are entertained with a free barbecue, a jumping castle and other children's attractions. As the sun sets, the Anzac memorial and gum trees glow with coloured lights and the activities continue.

As the town glows with illuminations, children and adults proudly march in the lantern parade—which my family and I particularly enjoy—displaying the paper lanterns they have made during the day in workshops and master classes. They captivate the audience with their creations. The finale is a fireworks spectacular over the historic town, capping off a night of colour, light and creativity. This event is the result of collaboration between many people. I supported this initiative as soon as I heard of it, and over the years it has got bigger and better. It is amazing to see 25,000 people in the main street of Picton. I also acknowledge c91.3FM, which sets up a radio station at the event. I encourage everyone to come to this fantastic event next year.

Mr JOHN SIDOTI (Drummoyne) (12:37:50):

In reply: I thank the members representing the electorates of North Shore, Oatley, Maitland, Manly, Davidson, Coogee, Terrigal, Wollondilly and Lakemba for their contributions to the debate. There is no doubt that Vivid Sydney is one of the signature major events for our city and our State. The member for Maitland stated that Vivid Sydney started during the last term of the Labor Government, but this event has truly cemented its place as Australia's premier festival in the past six years under the stewardship of the New South Wales Liberal-Nationals Government. Unfortunately, the years of Labor inaction saw our State go backwards. From 2008 to 2011, the total number of overnight visitors dropped by 3.1 per cent. Our visitor economy was in a state of disrepair and our regions were ignored. All of this has now changed, and this Government is smashing records every year. Thankfully the Labor days are a distant memory.

Beautiful: the Carole King Musical

The State is reaping the benefits of the New South Wales Liberals—Nationals Government's significant investment in tourism and major events, with the goal being to double overnight visitor expenditure by 2020. We will continue to build a top‑class major events calendar for New South Wales and promote our amazing State around the world. The Government is growing the New South Wales economy by securing major events and attracting a record number of visitors. As the member for Oatley told the House, the New South Wales Liberals‑Nationals are delivering a smorgasbord of world-class major events this year. Over the next month we have the State of Origin, a visit by Arsenal Football Club [FC], the Bledisloe Cup, American college football, the Australian premiere of , the National Rugby League grand final, and much more. The beginning of Vivid Sydney 2017 tomorrow night and the following 23 nights is the latest event that is testament to this major events calendar.

Whether one visits the new precinct at Barangaroo South, takes a stroll down the expanded light walk through the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, admires the imaginary creatures that will transform the sails of the Sydney Opera House or simply takes in the spectacular interactive lighting of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and city skyscrapers, there is something for everybody at this year's festival. I encourage all members of the House to experience the wonderful sights, sounds and ideas of Vivid Sydney 2017. I urge all members to join me in supporting this motion and acknowledging the hard work of all those who have put in countless hours over the past months to deliver what will be the biggest and best Vivid Sydney ever.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Geoff Provest):

The question is that the motion be agreed to.

Motion agreed to.