澳大利亚影子内政部长朱利安·李瑟在北阿纳姆地的Garma Festival演讲中批评总理安东尼·阿尔巴内塞在土著政策上表现不力。[1]李瑟表示，"自2023年10月以来，澳大利亚政府在土著事务上的政策一直在漂流"，并指出"自从Voice公投失败后，他就没有站起来过"。[1]2023年的Voice公投遭到澳大利亚人民的否决。[1]
李瑟强调土著社区亟需解决心理健康和教育问题。[1]他本人年幼时曾因自杀失去父亲。[1]作为政策效果的例证，李瑟提及Dhupuma Barker College的进展——该校招生人数在五年内几近翻三倍，从2021年的24名学生增至2026年的70名。[1]同时，该校出勤率上升了3个百分点，这与北领地其他政府学校的下降趋势形成对比。[1]
总理阿尔巴内塞缺席了Garma Festival，由外交部长彭尼·王和土著事务部长玛拉林迪里·麦卡锡代表政府出席。[1]
Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs Julian Leeser has criticized Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's approach to Indigenous policy, arguing that the government has lost focus since the failed Voice referendum. Speaking at the Garma Festival in north-east Arnhem Land on July 31, 2026, Leeser stated that "since October 2023, the Australian government's policy on Indigenous affairs has been adrift" and that "since the defeat of the Voice he just hasn't gotten off the mat."[1]
Leeser emphasized the need to prioritize mental health and education in Indigenous communities, with particular attention to suicide prevention.[1] He highlighted Dhupuma Barker College as a model for success, noting that enrollment nearly tripled over five years, rising from 24 students in 2021 to 70 in 2026, while school attendance increased by three percent—a performance that runs counter to declining attendance trends at other Northern Territory government schools.[1] Leeser's focus on suicide prevention is personal; he lost his father to suicide when he was a young man.[1]
Prime Minister Albanese was absent from the festival, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Indigenous Affairs Minister Malarindirri McCarthy representing the government at the event.[1]