Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced tens of millions of dollars in funding for native title holders while attending an aboriginal festival.
Mr Albanese spoke at the exclusive Garma Festival, where tickets cost up to $5,000, in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory on Saturday where he announced the establishment of a new First Nations Economic Empowerment Alliance.
During his address Mr Albanese pledged $75 million for native title holders, $70 million for “indigenous clean energy projects” and $31 million for a mobile TAFE program.
“We must end the stalemate that arises when native title organisations with little in the way of back of house or legal or commercial expertise are expected to negotiate with multinational companies,” Mr Albanese said.
“Today I announce our government will provide $75 million in additional funding to support native title holders to secure better deals, drive faster approvals and deliver a real and lasting economic legacy for communities.
“We are opening up $70 million in funding to help get First Nations clean energy projects up and running. This is about renewable energy generating good jobs in regional and remote Australia and making sure that people in some of the sunniest places on the continent, and indeed the world, don’t have to rely on diesel generators to light and power their homes.”
Mr Albanese also addressed a report by Victoria’s controversial Yoorrook Justice Commission that last month concluded that that tax relief and financial compensation should be paid to indigenous people and land handed back, accused British settlers of “genocide”, and called for Victoria’s First Peoples’ Assembly to be made permanent.
“By neglect and by design, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were cut off from the nourishment of culture and country,” he said.
“From the fullness of their history, the wealth of their land and waters. From their rightful, equal place in our economy and society. From the justice and opportunity that every Australian deserves.
“And from the dreams and aspirations that every parent holds for their child.”
Independent senator Lidia Thorpe, an anti-Australian extremist who claims to be indigenous despite being majority White, joined other aboriginal activists in demanding the Prime Minister act on “truth-telling”, the Australian Associated Press reported.
“Cash for the corporations and a few utes are crumbs on the table while so many of our people are dying in custody and governments continue to steal and jail our children at record rates,” she said.
“It’s time for Albanese to recommit to federal truth-telling and treaty. Child stealing, jailing, deaths in custody and suicides are the most fundamental injustices being perpetrated against first peoples (sic), and still – no vision, no plan, no interest in taking action on this.”
The $75 million in native title funding comes after aboriginal groups in northwest Victoria were granted exclusive rights to a huge swathe of land.
Header image: Anthony Albanese with Yolngu leader Djawa Yunupingu (Facebook).
