DHARWIN, NORTHERN TERRITORY – In a significant address at the Garma Festival in northeast Arnhem Land, Yothu Yindi Foundation chair Djawa Yunupingu emphasized the importance of Indigenous people taking control of their future and utilizing their lands and waters for their own benefit.
“We intend to use our lands and waters for our own future and the future of our children, and the future of our nation,” Yunupingu declared.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled an economic partnership with the Coalition of Peaks, aiming to empower traditional owners to advocate for infrastructure, housing, and energy projects on their land, and to build equity beyond the land itself.
The partnership also includes $70 million for Indigenous clean energy projects, $75 million for native title reforms, and $31 million for a mobile TAFE program.
The prime minister acknowledged that more needs to be done, citing the need to end the stalemate in negotiations between native title organizations and multinational firms.
He emphasized that a dedicated approach is required to address the ongoing issues, stating, “Reports and reviews have their place, but they are not a substitute for outcomes, results.”
Data released on Thursday revealed that only four of 19 targets are on track to be met under the Closing the Gap initiative, with another four goals regressing.
Albanese’s economic partnership builds on agreements made under Closing the Gap, which he described as a “new way of doing business.”
In a show of unity, Yunupingu expressed openness to doing business together with the prime minister, saying, “My brothers and sisters are telling me now, we have serious business… Making hard decisions with serious people is what leadership is all about.”
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