ADJOURNMENT

Ms CLAYDON (Newcastle—Deputy Speaker) (16:53): I want to congratulate Bernie's Bar in Newcastle on receiving a business award at the 2026 Honour awards. Presented by ACON, the Honour awards are the premier LGBTIQA+ community awards celebration in New South Wales. Since 2007 they have recognised outstanding service, achievements and excellence within rainbow communities.

This recognition celebrates Bernie's Bar for creating and sustaining a vital LGBTIQA+ cultural and community hub in regional New South Wales. For Newcastle's rainbow community, spaces like Bernie's Bar are so much more than a place of hospitality. They provide spaces where people can feel welcome, build connections, celebrate their identities and find a sense of belonging.

In regional communities, having safe and inclusive spaces can make an enormous difference. They help bring people together, strengthen community connections and ensure everyone has somewhere where they can feel at home. I congratulate the team behind Bernie's Bar on this well-deserved recognition.

Their contribution demonstrates the important role local businesses play in creating a more inclusive Newcastle. I'm proud to recognise renowned Novocastrian sculptor Julie Squires, who has been selected to deliver the sculptural elements of a nationally significant commemoration at Old Parliament House in Canberra. The project will honour Wiradjuri elders Nangar, also known as Jimmy Clements, and Ooloogan, also known as George John Noble.

Led by Regal Innovations, the design and construction team is creating a public work that will be located on the lawns opposite Old Parliament House as part of the centenary celebrations next year, marking 100 years since the building opened. The commemoration recognises two First Nations elders whose stories form an important, although little known, part of our nation's history.

These two remarkable men walked more than 150 kilometres from a mission just outside of Tumut to assert sovereignty and take their place in the story of our parliament. That reminds us that our country's democratic institutions exist on Aboriginal land, with a history stretching back tens of thousands of years before the establishment of the Commonwealth. It's wonderful to see a talented Novocastrian artist contributing to a project of such national significance.

This will add to her already impressive body of work represented in galleries and locations across Australia. The work is expected to be completed in May 2027, in time for the centenary celebrations. I congratulate Julie on her selection and look forward to seeing her work take place in our nation's capital.

I want to congratulate the Wallsend Wolves, who've returned from Japan after representing Australia at the Asia Pacific Seniors Touch Cup 2026. Natalie Little coached the women's 27 team, featuring Claire Spain, to a silver medal. Harry West helped the men's 30 team secure gold, while Cameron Maxwell coached the mixed 30s team, featuring Jarrad Rotumah, to gold.

Natalie Frizzell was part of the women's 35 team that won silver, while Kellie-Jean Johnston helped the women's 40 team bring home gold. That is three gold medals and two silver medals across the Wallsend representatives. It's a fantastic achievement on an international stage, and I congratulate every player and coach on representing Newcastle and Australia with such distinction.

These are just three remarkable stories from the community in Newcastle. I couldn't be more proud to represent people like Julie Squires, the sculptor; the Wallsend Wolves, who have just been fantastic achievers on the international stage as seniors in their respective sports; and of course the Bernie's Bar. They had a bit of a rough trot trying to get their Facebook and Instagram pages reinstalled at one point.

There seems to have been a very nasty campaign happening at a global level to prevent LGBTIQA businesses from advertising and maintaining their pages. It's obviously an important connection. I was very pleased to be able to get a positive outcome in dealings with Meta and seeing those reinstated.

I wish Bernie's Bar a very long and prosperous future. Please know you are a very important and welcome part of our community. House adjourned at 16:58 Federation Chamber Thursday, 15 October 2026 The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Sharkie ) took the chair at 09:30.