Friday 30 May 2025

Representing the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Deputy Chairperson for City Planning and Suburban Renewal, Councillor Penny Wolff; Brisbane Open House, Chair, Mr Malcolm Middleton, Executive Director, Ms Ann Rainbow and members of the Board; Ambassadors, staff and volunteers; Queensland Government Architect, Ms Leah Lang; Executive Director, Queensland Ballet, Ms Dilshani Weerasinghe distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to any First Nations people here this morning.

Graeme and I, as Joint Patrons of Brisbane Open House, were delighted to receive the invitation to launch the 2025 event program and, while Graeme is unable to be here this morning, he has asked me to pass on his congratulations and best wishes to everyone concerned for the success of this year’s event.

2025 marks 15 years since then Premier, the Honourable Anna Bligh, announced in Parliament that the inaugural Brisbane Open House would be launched by its patron at the time, then Governor, Her Excellency Ms Penelope Wensley.

Queensland Governors have since continued the commitment to patronage, and over the four years since I was appointed, Graeme and I have been delighted to see increasingly large crowds of curious residents and visitors lining up for the unique experiences offered by Brisbane Open House.

With just seven years until Brisbane welcomes the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Brisbane Open House plays a vital role in ensuring that our city remains firmly in the spotlight as one of the great cities of the world, from Athens to Zagreb, that now unlock their doors as part of the global Open House initiative.

This year, Brisbane Open House will give the public free access to more than 90 buildings, structures, places and private homes, from heritage treasures to contemporary buildings that exemplify the best in sustainable design.

The Thomas Dixon Centre is an ideal choice for today’s launch––a superb example of adaptive re-use that shows just how well the past and present can be brought together to preserve a valuable part of Brisbane’s architectural and industrial heritage, while also giving the city a facility that will serve the needs of Queensland Ballet and the community well into the future.

Thomas Dixon was one of Brisbane’s earliest and most successful entrepreneurs. He set up his boot-making business in 1863 and, some 40 years later, in 1908, he commissioned the prominent Queensland architect, Richard Gailey, to design the beautiful, two-storey Georgian Revival-style brick building that we know today as the Thomas Dixon Centre.

Graeme and I are proud to be the current custodians of another of Gailey’s creations – Fernberg, and we are looking forward to continuing the tradition of opening its doors to visitors in July as our contribution to Brisbane Open House.

Open House has special significance for us all this year because this month marks 200 years since Captain Henry Miller, the first Commandant of the Moreton Bay convict settlement, selected a site near William Street for a new settlement he called Brisbane Town.

I suspect Captain Miller would be astonished to see that his mosquito-plagued settlement of bark and canvas is now a city of more than two and a half million people that proudly celebrates its history, its heritage, its diverse built environment, and its innovative contemporary responses to climate and geography.

I sincerely thank the Queensland Government and the Brisbane City Council as government partners for their contribution to Brisbane Open House, as well as the many program, practice and media partners, and the Friends of Brisbane Open House. In particular, I thank the Founding Partners––the Queensland Government, the National Trust and the Committee for Brisbane––for their steadfast commitment and belief over the last 15 years.

I also congratulate and thank the Brisbane Open House Board led by Malcolm Middleton, the Brisbane Open House Ambassadors, the great team of staff and volunteers, and the many organisations, companies and owners of private homes who will so generously open their doors during Brisbane Open House this year.

It now gives me great pleasure to officially launch the 14^th annual Open House Brisbane.

Thank you and enjoy!

Minister for Families, Seniors and Disability Services; Minister for Child Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, the Honourable Amanda Camm MP; Acting Queensland Police Commissioner, Mr Shane Chelepy; Director-General, Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety, Ms Belinda Drew; Councillor for Wynnum Manly, Councillor Alex Givney; Challenge DV Chair, Ms Jane Hedger and CEO Mr Keith Tracey-Patte; Founder of Darkness to Daylight and Special Counsel at MinterEllison, Mr Robert Reed OAM; partners and sponsors; participants; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I, too, begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to all First Nations people.

As Joint Patron of Challenge DV with my husband Graeme, I am honoured to be taking part in today’s 12^th Anniversary Event together with all of you here today.

It must be said that that the best way––the only way––we, as a community, can take on the perpetrators of domestic and family violence is by banding together to defend the rights of those it most affects, and that is disproportionately the women and children in our communities.

And even then, our collective goodwill must be backed by concrete and sustained action by our policymakers and supported by the ongoing efforts of those who fundraise and sponsor Challenge DV and other groups committed to the prevention of domestic and family violence.

Thus far, despite our best efforts, this insidious abuse of human rights remains pervasive in our society. Each year, on average, 110 people die from domestic and family violence in Australia. According to recent data, in Queensland, about half of all assaults and nearly one-in-three property damage offences are linked to family and domestic violence.

Such statistics are intolerable and highlight the ongoing prevalence of abuse. They also overshadow any slight improvements over time, which while noteworthy may only serve to distract us from such deplorable facts as the widespread prevalence of violence against women and the ongoing, tragic regularity with which lives are lost at the hands of intimate partners.

Continuing to address this issue––in equal parts public health and human rights––is paramount, and the initiatives we have seen to date go a long way toward doing this. Workplace programs, awareness training, partnerships, refuges and support networks have all proved essential elements of a much wider platform of enterprise and resources delivered through Challenge DV.

In 2024, more than $350,000 was raised to assist in this movement for change. This is certainly one statistic I hope we can improve upon in 2025. Money raised can provide face to face domestic and family prevention training in community sporting clubs or help community groups recognise and address domestic and family violence.

It can fund administration support for the Combined Women’s Refuge Group, or presentations in schools to educate young people. It can provide administrative support for the Men’s Behavioural Change Program.

Whether undertaking the 3-kilometre or 110-kilometre walk or run, your contribution forms a valuable part of this event. I too am proud to be wearing my Challenge DV commemorative shirt and cap for my 3-kilometre walk today, and to be representing all Queenslanders in expressing my gratitude to Challenge DV for its incredible work in this sphere.

A resounding thank you to all those here today, from government, council, major sponsors, donors and other supporters, Challenge DV staff and all members of the public here today.