PM says he’s sick and will take a day off soon
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he is sick and will skip an annual event he committed to attending after working every single day this year.
He will not be at the Garma Festival later this month, breaking his vow to attend the Indigenous gathering on north-east Arnhem Land each year he is prime minister.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addresses the Garma keynote forum in 2023. Rhett Wyman
Albanese on Thursday revealed he was unwell as he knocked back criticism on going back on his word.
“I haven’t had a day off all year. All year,” he told the ABC.
“And this weekend, in a few days, I’ll be in another remote part of the Northern Territory.
“I will be at another festival in the Northern Territory in coming days, and I’ve been to Garma every year that it’s been held since I’ve been Labor leader in 2019.”
Albanese has spent the year responding to the aftermath of the Bondi terror attack in December, which led to an early resumption of parliament, and the fuel crisis due to the war in the Middle East.
Last year, he promised to attend the Garma Festival each year he is 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 forum.
“This is a journey that has a long way to go.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during the opening ceremony of the Garma Festival. Rhett Wyman
Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Indigenous Minister Malarndirri McCarthy will represent the government at this year’s festival.
McCarthy said the prime minister’s absence would be disappointing to the event organisers, the Yothu Yindi Foundation (YYF).
“I know that he is trying to get to quite a few communities across Australia and I know it’s disappointing for the Yolngu representatives and YYF in Garma,” she told the ABC.
“But I am incredibly pleased that we’ve got Senator Penny Wong coming.
“I have to say, she’s one of my favourites, and no disrespect to you, prime minister, but I think it’s wonderful that the foreign minister is coming and certainly we’ve got so many ministers coming.”
YFF issued a short statement, calling the prime minister a good friend.
“Mr Albanese is a good friend of the Festival, and has been to every Garma since 2019,” it said.
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