Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended his decision not to attend this year’s Garma Festival, pointing to his recent engagement with First Nations leaders in the Pacific as evidence of his government’s ongoing commitment to Indigenous diplomacy.
Speaking on ABC Sydney, Albanese said he had attended every Garma Festival held since becoming Labor leader in 2019 and had informed organisers well in advance that he would not be present at the 2026 event because he would be on leave.
“I haven’t had a day off all year,” Albanese said, adding that he would instead be attending another festival in the Northern Territory.
The Prime Minister also highlighted Australia’s growing focus on First Nations engagement beyond domestic borders, including his decision to take a Yolngu leader to Fiji as part of Australia’s Pacific diplomacy.
Albanese said the engagement demonstrated the importance of incorporating First Nations perspectives into Australia’s regional relationships.
“One of the great things I did was to take a leader from the Yolngu people to Fiji for the alliance that we formed with Fiji,” he said.
“And that First Nations engagement in the Pacific has been so important.”
The Fiji visit formed part of broader efforts by Australia to strengthen ties with Pacific nations while recognising the cultural connections and shared histories of Indigenous communities across the region.
Albanese said his government remained committed to meaningful engagement with First Nations Australians and highlighted his long-standing participation in Garma, a major Indigenous cultural and governance forum held in Arnhem Land.
His comments came after criticism from political opponents who argued his decision not to attend Garma contradicted his previous commitment to attend the festival annually while serving as Prime Minister.
Albanese rejected the criticism, saying his broader record demonstrated continued engagement with Indigenous communities and that his schedule included ongoing visits and conversations across regional and remote Australia.
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