Premier's NAIDOC Award

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:09): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Can the minister tell the house about the recently announced male winner of the Premier's NAIDOC Award?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:09): I thank the honourable member for his question, differing greatly from other questions that have been asked today. One of the great joys and honours of my role is celebrating the achievements of Aboriginal people in South Australia. As I have mentioned before in this chamber, both in relation to this year and to years gone by, there is no better week to do that than the annual NAIDOC Week.

This year's theme, Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud, as I have mentioned in the chamber before, is a theme that encapsulates the spirit of Aboriginal communities and what it represents to celebrate Aboriginal achievement and encourage particularly up-and-coming leaders. As well as the national NAIDOC Awards, which were this year hosted in Adelaide, there were the South Australian NAIDOC Awards and the Premier's NAIDOC Award as well. The Premier's NAIDOC Award is now—and has been for a number of years—presented to two individuals: one Aboriginal male and one outstanding Aboriginal female.

Today, I would like to inform the council of the winner of this year's male Premier's NAIDOC Award. As there is every year, there were many exceptional finalists, making the decision for the panel that looks at the winners very difficult. But, this year's very deserving male winner was Wayne Miller. Wayne is a Wirangu man who works as the CEO of the Ceduna Aboriginal Corporation. In his role Wayne provides strong leadership for Aboriginal communities on the Far West Coast, advocating for secure housing, the provision of culturally sensitive services and community safety, as well as being a leader in that part of the world during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wayne has an excellent reputation for working collaboratively with stakeholders at all levels of government to achieve positive outcomes, such as expanding the offerings of the Youth Hub in Ceduna from its humble beginnings. Wayne is leading work on the Ceduna Aboriginal Corporation's new arts precinct, scheduled to open on the town's foreshore, which will support in the order of 100 talented local artists.

Outside his day-to-day work Wayne has been a community leader and one of the coaches of the Kooniba Football Club's A-grade side, the longest continuous Aboriginal football club anywhere in the country. He advocates for the maintenance and growth of the club as a vessel for community engagement, including expanding to women's and girls' football programs.

I am proud to know and work closely with people like Wayne Miller, who give so much of themselves to improving the lives of our state's Aboriginal communities. I offer very, very sincere congratulations. My thanks go to Wayne and all nominees, and I look forward to informing the council about the excellent work of recipients of these NAIDOC awards in the future.