this post was submitted on 01 Aug 2026
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[–] Ilandar@lemmy.today 6 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Wong has attended the festival this year instead of Prime Minister Albanese, whose absence from the festival has drawn some criticism. The prime minister has defended the decision, saying he hasn't "[had] a day off all year" and noting that he has attended each year since 2019.

He broke the promise he made just last year so he could have a day off? Is this guy for real...?

[–] Gorgritch_umie_killa@aussie.zone 1 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Yeah, i don't get it. As I read the article I did wonder if maybe he was made aware of Noel Pearson's call to have direct federal funding of these communities, instead of State Aboriginal affairs bodies. But I don't know, theres been no suggestions that is the actual case.

[–] Ilandar@lemmy.today 1 points 2 hours ago

This ABC article from a few weeks back had a bit more detail from the quote. Somehow I missed it at the time, but I did assume he was actually working (or pretending to work) instead. Not taking a holiday.

Anthony Albanese has defended breaking his promise to attend the Garma Festival every year, stating he hasn't "had a day off all year".

At last year's event Mr Albanese vowed to attend the country's largest Indigenous gathering for as long as he remained prime minister.

“I commit here that, every single year that I have the great honour to be Australia’s prime minister, I will be here and engaged with you,” he told the Garma Key Forum.

Last week the ABC reported that the prime minister would not travel to the Northern Territory for the festival, which kicks off on July 31.

Asked today whether this constitutes a broken promise, Mr Albanese said, "I haven't had a day off all year".

"And this weekend, in a few days, I'll be in another remote part of the Northern Territory," he said.

"I will be on leave at that time, but I will be at another festival in the Northern Territory in the coming days.