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#19303191 at 2023-08-05 15:08:00 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #31: MAGIC SWORD - IN THE FACE OF EVIL Edition

>>19303148

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The four-day festival, a celebration of Yolngu culture and a testament to Aboriginal struggle and survival, draws a crowd of high-flying corporate executives, diplomats, politicians and representatives from government agencies who mingle with members from dozens of clans that comprise the Yolngu nation.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was given a standing ovation from the crowd after he delivered the keynote speech to the festival.

Departing briefly from his set remarks, which he used to declare there would be "no delaying or deferring this referendum", he drew upon the Australian coat of arms to reinforce his claim that the Voice represented a path forward from the status quo for Indigenous Australians.

"I was reminded that the kangaroo and emu that sit on the crest, that sit on my letterhead, are two of the only animals in the world that never go backwards - they just go forwards," Albanese said. "The referendum is about whether we retreat into ourselves or have the courage to advance forward. That is what it is about."

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton turned down an invitation to attend Garma, describing the festival this week as "a love-in" for the Yes campaign and its corporate backers. Last month, Dutton singled out Rio Tinto, BHP and Wesfarmers, which have donated $2 million each to the Yes campaign, as he accused big business of lacking "a significant backbone" and failing to act in the country's interest by supporting the Voice.

Cape York leader Noel Pearson told the festival the referendum was the "last best chance" to recognise Indigenous Australians in the constitution and set children up with a better future than their parents, as he pledged the Yes campaign would leave no stone unturned in its bid to convince voters.

"This is not about Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton," Pearson said on Saturday. "This is about whether we're going to achieve a new Australia - and for our mob it is going to be new. It is going to be a new Australia for young Aboriginal children."

At a corporate dinner at the Garma Festival last night, Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney told chief executives and business representatives backing the Voice that the No campaign was advocating for the unacceptable status quo facing many First Nations people to continue.

"If we say 'No' we are accepting that things cannot get better. Those arguing for 'No' are offering no solutions," Burney said.

Earlier on Saturday, incoming AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon defended the organisation's support for the Voice during a press conference at the festival.

"The AFL as an organisation has come out in support of a Yes vote," Dillon said.

"We think that is very important from an AFL point of view with the number of First Nations players that we have, the number of First Nations men and women we have working in the AFL.

"What we say to the people of Australia is to make sure you educate yourself."

https://www.theage.com.au/national/this-is-not-about-albanese-and-dutton-pearson-appeals-to-australia-at-garma-festival-20230805-p5du63.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKFKRLGWzKs