Timidity reigns as Anthony #Albanese backs away from Makarrata at #GarmaFestival.
The government is staring down the barrel of an election by May next year. It does not want to be arguing about Makarrata and treaty because it believes it is a battle it will not win.
The prime minister has stood by the word #Makarrata but has downplayed what Makarrata means, saying it is based on "just the idea of coming together", without a truth and justice commission as part of its work.
Anthony Albanese told #Insiders his government had not proposed a truth and justice commission, saying that "what we have proposed is Makarrata just being the idea of coming together" and that "might take different forms as it evolves".
But the #Ulurustatement he promised to fully implement doesn't just include the word Makarrata with no broader context. It is not a vague Yolngu word. It calls for a Makarrata commission and a process of agreement-making and truth-telling — and the Albanese government had already allocated $5.8 million towards its establishment.
Albanese is now reluctant to advance this because his government believes it is a battle Australia is unprepared to have. As the festival unfolded in Arnhem Land, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton told journalists in WA: "Under a government I lead there will be no Makarrata."
"There will be no revisiting of truth-telling. The $450 million the government wasted in the Voice was an outrage," he said.
On Sunday, he said Albanese was "talking out of both sides of his mouth".
#auspol Words to describe #Albo: #timid #underwhelming #lacklustre #useless #shallow #weak #underperforming #scared?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-05/albanese-backs-away-from-makarrata-commission-promise/104181776
