McCarthy, Sen Malarndirri

Senator McCARTHY (Northern Territory—Deputy Opposition Whip in the Senate) (19:38): I would like to tell the Senate about something pretty awesome that happened last month. It was the highlight of Darwin's dry season calendar, the Darwin Festival, which in August celebrated its 40th year with great success. It's the time of year when the Top End becomes the envy of the southern states. The weather is perfect—there's low humidity, no clouds in the sky—and the city comes alive. This year more tickets were sold to Darwin Festival than at any other time in its 40-year history. That's a testament to the festival program, the festival team and the people of Darwin. Congratulations to all those involved. In particular, I was pleased to attend so many events recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and talent—kicking off with From Country to Couture. The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation presented two fashion shows, showcasing collaborations between Indigenous artist centres and designers. You should come next year, Mr Acting Deputy President Brockman! This included textile art from art centres across Australia, such as Anindilyakwa Arts on Groote Island; the Tangentyere Artists from Alice Springs' town camps; Warmun Art Centre in WA; Bula'bula Art Centre in Ramingining; and Munupi, Jilamara, Ngaruwanajirri and Bima Wear artists from the Tiwi Islands. This year also saw a special collaboration between Mangkaja Arts in Western Australia and fashion brand Gorman, establishing a national benchmark in fashion-licensing rights for the Mangkaja artists' rights. Gorman has collaborated with more than 80 local and Indigenous artists in the past 10 years, but this was the label's first collaboration with First Nations designers. From Country to Couture put on a proud display of the incredible First Nations talent we have in remote Indigenous art centres nationwide and fused traditional techniques like the hand weaving of native bushland materials with a contemporary fashion platform. It was wonderful see such a showcase of cultural stories in textile art. In particular, I wish to acknowledge Bima Wear, the Tiwi women's creative enterprise based in Wurrumiyanga on Bathurst Island. This year, Bima Wear celebrates 50 years of enterprise, proudly owned and operated by Tiwi women who design, print and manufacture everyday, occasion and ceremonial wear celebrating their Tiwi language and culture. Indeed, Bima Wear was the Territory's very first fashion label, established in 1969 with the assistance of Sister Eucharia. I want to recognise the work of Lucia Pilakui, now 68, who has been involved in Bima Wear since it was first established. While she took a break to get treatment for breast cancer, today she helps train the next group of women making clothes featuring the islands' prints. Their anniversary collection, in collaboration with Tiwi fashion designer Clair Helen, featured in the From Country to Couture fashion show. And while they now cater to mainstream Australia, they continue to make sure Bima Wear is accessible and affordable for its own community. On the theme of Aboriginal art, winners of the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, NATSIAA, were announced at a special event in August. It's a great month in Darwin, August! This was at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. This year, 68 finalists were selected to exhibit their works, and winners were announced across seven categories. Djambawa Marawili from Yilpara in North East Arnhem Land took out the prestigious Telstra award with his bark painting, Journey to America 2018, while a number of other Territory artists also took awards home. It is an incredible painting, Mr Acting Deputy President, so if you get the chance have a look at that one of Djambawa Marawili's. It was certainly a fabulous night, and congratulations to all the finalists and to the category winners. But wait, there's more that happened! The National Indigenous Music Awards saw a record-breaking crowd come together to celebrate the best in First Nations music from around the country. As many performers commented on the night, it was evidence of the diversity of First Nations music right across Australia. Jessica Mauboy, Archie Roach, Dan Sultan, Electric Fields, even Deborah Cheetham, Tasman Keith, Spinifex Gum, Eric Avery and the Kenbi Dancers were just some of the performers. I could go on! I was honoured to present— Senator Siewert interjecting— Senator McCARTHY: Come next year, Senator Siewert! I was honoured to present the award for Artist of the Year to the 'Fresh Prince of Arnhem Land' himself and Young Australian of the Year, Baker Boy. Congratulations to all of the award winners and the nominees of the 2019 National Indigenous Music Awards. Now I'd like to change the topic from a festival of events in August to some pretty tasty food from the Top End from Humpty Doo Barra. I'd like to mention a local Darwin family business that's going from strength to strength. The Humpty Doo barramundi farm, located outside of Darwin, is Australia's largest producer of barramundi in the country. You didn't know that, did you, Mr Acting Deputy President? Well, it is. Run by Dan Richards and his father, Bob, the farm in the last 12 years has grown from having just four workers to now employing 88 staff full time. They sell 66,000 kilograms of fish per week, their best-practice harvest techniques ensuring excellent quality fish are distributed Australia-wide in the best condition, including through Woolworths. I headed out there recently with my Queensland Senate colleague the shadow minister for northern Australia, Murray Watt, who was in Darwin. I took him along and we met Dan, and Dan showed us around. We saw the ponds holding 20,000 to 30,000 fish. We saw the work being done to bulldoze and excavate parts of their land to expand the farm by 30 per cent. And we saw the boxes to send out fish twice a week to restaurants and supermarkets across Australia. I was so proud to see this local business supporting local jobs and our community. Obviously, it was an opportunity to get a briefing directly from Dan and his family about the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility and the significance of how NAIF will be important to this family, who are trying to expand even more into the Australian market. Senator Watt and I were also able to attend the Tourism Top End general meeting, where we heard from the tourism sector about how business was going during the dry season and the challenges for business operators in the Top End. Naturally, we know the dry season month, especially with the festival that I mentioned, brings a lot of tourists, but there is so much more that can be done. To those tourism operators who are coming together on a regular basis: it was terrific to listen to some of your stories at the meeting that night and also to see the new tourism entrants who had joined the membership. Finally, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Shirleen Campbell, who is a finalist in the AFR 100 Women of Influence Awards. Shirleen is someone I feel privileged to have met. Shirleen came here to Parliament House with women from the Tangentyere women's group in Alice Springs. Shirleen is a proud Warlpiri and Arrernte woman who provides a strong voice for women, children and men who are experiencing family and domestic violence. Shirleen was pivotal to the development of the Tangentyere Women’s Family Safety Group, a group of women from Alice Springs town camps who work to make families and communities safer. That group travelled from Alice Springs to Canberra last year to bring their message to parliamentarians here in the Senate and in the other chamber, the House of Reps. One woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner and one in three Australian women experience physical violence from the age of 15. For First Nations women it is much worse. Shirleen is taking a stand, and I am pleased to see that stand recognised by the AFR as one of their women of influence. So, Shirleen, this is for you. Congratulations to you. As a senator for the Northern Territory, I'm enormously proud of the work that you do and the women at Tangentyere do for all our families in and around Alice Springs town camps and in and around Central Australia, but in fact right across Australia. You're an incredible role model. Keep up the good work. To all the women there: thank you for what you do.