Paul Kelly and Peter Garrett have inducted Aboriginal music icons Yothu Yindi into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
The band, whose name translates to child and mother, were joined on stage by Jessica Mauboy, Dan Sultan, Kelly and Andrew Farriss to perform the international hit Treaty.
Former Midnight Oil star and current federal Education Minister Garrett described Yothu Yindi as 'powerful evocative and challenging'. Kelly said 'they are not so much a band as a philosophy on life'.
Yothu Yindi used their ARIA induction on Thursday to call for the recognition of indigenous Australians in the constitution.
The band urged fans to get behind the campaign to change Australia's foundation document.
'As musicians, recognition from our peers is important to us,' Yothu Yindi frontman Mandawuy Yunupingu said.
'As Aboriginal Australians, recognition from our constitution is even more important.'
Backstage a frail Yunupingu who needs a kidney transplant, told AAP his illness didn't hold I'm back from enjoying the night's performance.
'I quite liked it,' he said.
'Many people involved like Peter Garrett and Paul Kelly and Jessica making sure the recognition is there is really good, I'm happy about it.'
Garrett almost didn't make the performance, being held up in the House of Representatives.
'I feel a great sense of privilege to be able to share this occasion with people who we've been very close to for a long time,' Garrett said.
'The fact is Yothu Yindi's achievement is a remarkable one.'
On stage Sultan, winner of Best Male in 2010, paid tribute to Yothu Yindi.
'I remember watching them at St Kilda festival as an eight-year-old,' he said.
'I remember thinking 'they're doing it and they're aboriginal' and I was there with my cousins and uncles and it's something you never forget.
'Then you turn around one day and you're standing on stage with them and watching them receive a great honour which the Hall of Fame is.'
Formed in 1986, Yothu Yindi has won eight ARIA awards and their single Treaty peaked at No.11 on the ARIA singles chart. The single achieved the band international success, peaking at No.6 on the US Hot Dance Club Play singles charts.
