It was a pleasure to attend the inaugural meeting of the Parliamentary Friends of Regional Arts and Culture in Parliament House today. Australia’s regional arts and culture sector is incredibly diverse, and tells the stories of Australia’s diverse population. It also employs tens of thousands of people across regional Australia, and is vital for our regions. It was great to talk to Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends Group, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, John Oster from Regional Arts Australia, and my Senate ‘Chamber-buddy’ Senator Malarndirri McCarthy – Northern Territory about the importance of arts in regional Australia.