Garma 2026: Julian Leeser says PM has lost direction on Indigenous affairs

Opposition Indigenous affairs spokesperson Julian Leeser says that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has lost direction on Indigenous affairs since the defeat of the Voice to Parliament.

In a speech at this year’s Garma festival, the Liberal MP said that the federal government’s policy on Indigenous affairs has become “adrift” and that it lacks “a clear direction and sense of purpose”.

Leeser criticised the prime minister’s commitment to Indigenous policy since the Voice referendum, which the Australian public voted down in October 2023.

“Since the defeat of the Voice he just hasn’t got off the mat,” he said.

“It is time to get off the mat.”

Leeser has long advocated for constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians and was one of the few conservative politicians who supported the Voice to Parliament.

In 2023, he resigned from the Coalition frontbench after the Liberals announced they would oppose an Indigenous voice to parliament, so that he could campaign for the Yes vote.

Albanese has chosen not to attend this year’s Garma festival, despite saying last year that he would attend every year for as long as he was prime minister.

For coverage of this year’s Garma festival: https://bit.ly/3Af7UAD