While some welcome the prime minister’s focus on economic empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, others brand it a further step from truth-telling.
Anthony Albanese has used his address at the Garma Festival in northeast Arnhem Land to unveil an economic partnership with the Coalition of Peaks and First Nations Economic Empowerment Alliance.
“This builds on our commitment to the Closing the Gap Agreement, to its call for a new way of doing business and to the principle of shared decision-making,” he told the festival audience at Gulkula in the Northern Territory on Saturday.
The approach will allow traditional owners to advocate for infrastructure, housing and energy projects on their land and build equity beyond the land itself.
Coalition of Peaks lead convener Pat Turner said the partnership was about putting Indigenous communities in control of their economic future.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been clear for decades that our community-controlled organisations are the best employers of our people, providing the foundation for our economic development,” she said.
Addressing the crowd at Garma, Yolngu leader and chair of the Yothu Yindi Foundation Djawa Yunupingu said he wanted a real economy for his people.
“We intend to use our lands and waters for our own future and the future of our children, and the future of our nation,” he said.
Mr Albanese also announced $70 million for Indigenous clean energy projects, $31 million for a mobile TAFE program and $75 million for native title reform under the partnership.
National Native Title Tribunal chief executive Jamie Lowe said this funding showed the government was serious about supporting traditional owners.
“Investing in the native title sector is game-changing,” he said.
“This injection of capacity will mean more jobs, more opportunities for young people and stronger protection for our cultural heritage.”
While some organisations met the prime minister’s announcement with praise, Aunty Glendra Stubbs, the elder in residence at community legal centre Knowmore, expressed disappointment in a lack of any mention of truth-telling.
The government backed away from its commitment to Makarrata in 2024 and though he acknowledged the work of the Victorian truth-telling inquiry Yoorrook, Mr Albanese made no mention of a national process in his address.
Aunty Glendra said it hurt to see truth-telling missing from the conversation.
“Our people have been asking for this for generations,” she said.
“Without truth, the pain of colonisation remains open – generation after generation.
“We can’t heal what we won’t name.”
Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe said it was time for Mr Albanese to recommit to federal truth-telling and treaty.
“Cash for the corporations and a few utes are crumbs on the table while so many of our people are dying in custody and governments continue to steal and jail our children at record rates,” she said.
Garma is marking its 25th festival and Mr Yunupingu acknowledged those who started it in 1999 – his brothers – and the festival’s roots in promises of treaty, which were “washed down” by governments of the past but never forgotten.
Mr Yunupingu said he felt the disappointment again at the result of the voice referendum in 2023.
“We talked about it last year, we shed a tear to that and now it’s behind us,” he said, speaking about Mr Albanese’s visit to Garma in 2024.
“Even though we live with shattered dreams, we must keep looking to the future.”
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