Mob Talks Launch

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS (14:38): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Will the minister inform the council about the Mob Talks launch and the recent screening of the First Nations TV talk show?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:39): I thank the honourable member for her question and her interest. I can inform the chamber with pleasure that back in March it was an honour to attend the Mob Talks launch and preview screening of the new First Nations TV talk show.

This new series, hosted by rising First Nations star, Marcellus Enalanga, and featuring an array of First Nations guests, explores issues affecting First Nations communities in South Australia. The show not only highlights First Nations South Australians' stories and issues but, most excitingly, has been created and driven by First Nations South Australian screen creatives, producers and directors Keith Gilbey-Warrior and Rick Hutcheson. Keith and Rick are both graduates of the South Australian Film Corporation and Channel 44 First Nations Internship Program, which sees emerging First Nations filmmakers and screen creatives undergoing hands-on training and mentoring in TV production at Channel 44's Collinswood studios.

Mob Talks is a first production driven by participants of this innovative skills development program. It's very exciting to see how partnerships like this one between SAFC and Channel 44 are creating new career pathways for First Nations South Australians in the screen industries and strengthening the capacity, creativity and connectedness of our state's First Nations screen sector.

During the preview, all attendees had the opportunity to see firsthand the trailer and first episode of the program, with special guests being Ms Shona Reid and Elijah Bravington. The program itself is proof of what innovative things can come from such partnerships with state government investment in the screen sector, and also attests to the depth and breadth of creative and technical talent amongst our state's First Nations communities. The sneak peek episode at the official launch provided an eye-opening intro into what will come in the future, discussing issues that affect the everyday life of First Nations people in South Australia.

It is exciting to see new and original locally made First Nations-driven content being created and broadcast to the wider community, not just here in SA but nationally through the CTV+ online streaming platform. Hopefully, it won't be too long before we see even more. Early last month (in April), nine First Nations writers took part in another exciting Film Corporation and Channel 44 initiative: the First Nations TV Pilot Writing Workshop. I am sure that some of these will go on to great things in the screen and television industries as well. Mob Talks officially premiered on Channel 44 at 8pm on Sunday 2 April and can be streamed, as I said, on CTV+. I congratulate those involved and encourage everyone to watch it. Do yourselves a favour.