The Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies (QJBD) has criticized the Queensland Music Awards for honoring Kellee Green's piece 'River to Sea', which they argue promotes antisemitic rhetoric.

The incident has been described by the Jewish community as part of a troubling rise in antisemitism since October 7, 2023, with concerns over hate speech disguised as art or activism.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong labeled the phrase associated with Green's song as 'hate speech', while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated it has 'no place in Australia'.

Despite the backlash, QMusic remains committed to learning from the incident and ensuring the awards maintain their integrity in recognizing Queensland's diverse music scene.

Following the backlash, Green has deactivated her official website and social media pages, indicating the controversy's significant impact on her public presence.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner condemned the awards for endorsing antisemitism, announcing the withdrawal of council funding and support while questioning the integrity of the awards.

Schrinner described the awarding of Green's song as 'offensively titled anti-Jewish' and expressed concerns about the awards being 'hijacked by extremists'.

QMusic, the organization behind the awards, acknowledged the political implications of the song's title but claimed it did not seem divisive among the many entries.

QMusic CEO Kris Stewart expressed disappointment over the funding withdrawal, emphasizing that the awards aim to celebrate Queensland's music talent and creativity.

In light of the controversy, QJBD has urged the awards organizers to rescind Green's honor and called for an investigation into how such an award was granted.

During her acceptance speech, Green accused the Australian government of complicity in war crimes by supporting Israel's military actions and called for protests and boycotts.

The Queensland Music Awards stand to lose $25,000 in funding due to the Brisbane City Council's withdrawal of support.