Albanese grilled on Garma snub
By DUNCAN MURRAY
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended his decision not to attend a major Indigenous festival during a historic maiden trip to the Tiwi Islands.
During his first visit as prime minister to the remote Island chain, north of Darwin, Mr Albanese was grilled about why he would not attend the upcoming Garma Festival in East Arnhem Land.
In 2022, Mr Albanese used the festival – the nation’s largest and most significant Indigenous gathering – as a platform to launch the voice referendum, but this year he will take leave instead.
Anthony Albanese described his visit to the Tiwi Islands as “historic”. (Patch Clapp/AAP PHOTOS)
The prime minister said “can’t be everywhere” when questioned on Sunday about his absence from the event, which begins at the end of July.
“I’ve been to the Garma Festival five times as Labor leader, more than any leader of any political party in Australian history,” he told reporters.
“I’ve been to the Northern Territory 19 times, more than the previous three prime ministers combined.
“I’m here at this really important place. It’s a historic visit.”
There were plenty of locals on hand to greet Anthony Albanese on his trip to the Tiwi Islands. (Patch Clapp/AAP PHOTOS)
The prime minister did the coin toss for a local Australian rules match during his visit to the football-mad region, fielding questions from the media about whether a 20th AFL licence should go to a Northern Territory team.
“I’d love to see a team here in the territory, as I’m sure all Territorians would,” he said.
“The Northern Territory has a great history of producing great footballers.
“We’ll continue to talk and engage with the AFL. I don’t run the AFL.”
The ball isn’t in his court, but Anthony Albanese likes the idea of an AFL team in the NT. (Patch Clapp/AAP PHOTOS)
Former AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou is among those leading the push for a team based in Darwin to join the league in less than a decade.
Federal Labor member and Tiwi woman Marion Scrymgour joined Mr Albanese for the visit.
“It’s always fantastic for me to come back home to my mob on the Tiwi Islands,” she said.
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