SA Music Awards

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:14): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Will the minister inform the council on the success of the Aboriginal artists at this year's South Australian Music Awards?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Deputy Premier, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (15:14): I thank the honourable member for his question hot on the heels of being asked by another member of this chamber about Tarnanthi. I am very pleased to be able to inform the chamber about the success of Aboriginal artists at this year's South Australian Music Awards. The SA Music Awards are presented annually and every year we see a star-studded group of South Australian musicians being celebrated because of their local, national and international success.

It was fantastic to see that this year's awards were filled with many First Nations musicians who were recognised not only as finalists but winners across multiple categories. One of the very notable groups, and one of my favourites, is the extremely successful group on the evening, Dem Mob, a hip-hop group hailing from the APY lands and known for their energetic performances. Dem Mob actually about this time a year ago performed in the Old Chamber of Parliament House when South Australia hosted the Joint Council on Closing the Gap. I suspect they may be one of the first hip-hop groups to perform in the Old Chamber of parliament and they absolutely blew everyone away with their ability and their energy.

In the last couple of years, at the Kulilaya Festival, which celebrated the 40^th anniversary of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Rights Act—and I know there were a number of members of this chamber and the other chamber who were in Umuwa on the APY lands in I think it was about March 2024 for those celebrations—Dem Mob also played. I have been fortunate to see Dem Mob play in places around Adelaide in their own right and as a support act for other groups.

Dem Mob won four awards on the evening, including the major awards of Best Regional Artist, Best Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Artist, the industry award for Best Music Educator and the People's Choice Award for Best Hip-Hop. This is, I understand, something like their 10^th award in just three years—testament to their talent and standing in the music industry.

In addition, Rob Edwards, an Adelaide-based Western Arrernte singer/songwriter, won the special award category UNESCO 10^th anniversary award. Rob has recently supported no less than Robbie Williams at the Adelaide 500, performed at WOMADelaide, Queenscliff Music Festival and Harvest Rock in 2022. I would like to congratulate all finalists across all categories on their success and the recognition of their creative work and their contribution to the art scene in this state.