Helpmann Awards

Ms HILDYARD (Reynell) (15:08): My question is to the Minister for the Arts. Minister, how was South Australia represented at last night's Helpmann Awards?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (15:08): I thank the member for Reynell for her question. Last night, Live Performance Australia hosted the Helpmann Awards at the Sydney Lyric Theatre, and I was pleased to attend the event on behalf of the government.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: The Helpmann Awards, named of course after Mount Gambier-born dancer and thespian Sir Robert Helpmann, celebrate the best theatre, dance and musical awards that our country has to offer. Here again, the Leader of the Opposition rubbishes our arts industry and throws interjections across the chamber rubbishing our arts industry and questioning my role as Minister for the Arts.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order, sir: I ask you to bring the minister back to the substance of the question.

The SPEAKER: The minister should not respond to interjections.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: This year, South Australia was very well—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Once again rubbishing our arts industry. The Leader of the Opposition just can't help himself. South Australia was well represented—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: He gets very screamy when he is under pressure. I am not sure if you have noticed, but the Leader of the Opposition starts to scream a lot. I don't know—there is something going on over there, Mr Speaker. There is something going on. I don't know what it is.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: Could it be the worst result since 1983?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: It could just be the disastrous federal election results in South Australia. I don't know, but I do know the Leader of the Opposition does get very screamy when he is under pressure. He gets very angry. Mr Potato Head has the angry face on today.

This year, South Australia was very well represented, with Michael Griffiths nominated for his Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Fringe show, Cole. Michaela Burger and Greg Wain were nominated for their Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Fringe show, Exposing Edith. Adelaide-based Australian Dance Theatre was nominated for best dance piece of their production, Habitus, with both dancers Kimball Wong and Lonii Garnons-Williams also nominated in their respective best dancer categories. I know the Australian Dance Theatre is located in the Waite electorate and the member for Waite is a great supporter.

The annual delight that is WOMADelaide was up for Best Contemporary Music Festival, and Slingsby was up for Best Presentation for Children for their stunning Adelaide Festival production—

Mr Marshall: Who got best comedy?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Best comedy would have gone to the Leader of the Opposition, but unfortunately he was not eligible.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: You would have to win something.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: You would have to win something, indeed. Slingsby was up for Best Presentation for Children for their stunning Adelaide Festival production, The Young King. Our State Theatre Company co-productions were also in the mix, with Colin Friels nominated for Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play for their joint production of Mortido, and Catherine McClements was nominated for Best Female Actor in a Play for her role in The Events.

While not technically South Australian, we also claim Adelaide Cabaret Festival co-director Eddie Perfect as one of ours. He was nominated for his Adelaide Cabaret show, Songs from the Middle, in the category of Best Original Score. It has been widely reported today that Matilda was the standout success of the night, winning all 13 categories for which it was nominated, including Best Set Design.

I congratulate the Adelaide Festival Centre scenery and engineering workshop, who toiled over the design and brought the set to life. I understand that Ron Wood, who manages the workshop, is about to retire, and what an outstanding achievement to go out on. Apart from Matilda, other artists did get a slight look-in. I would like to place on the record my congratulations to WOMADelaide, Michael Griffiths and Kimball Wong, who took out their respective award categories.

Of course, there are also many national productions which have graced our state's stages, including Little Shop of Horrors, Australian Ballet and Ghost the Musical, and I am sure we are all looking forward to upcoming seasons of The Sound of Music, Singing in the Rain, and the absolute standout of the evening, Matilda, which will be coming to the Festival Theatre in May. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all our winners and nominees on their outstanding contribution and dedication to the arts in this state. We are all extremely proud of each and every one of you.