Peter Dutton claims Garma festival will be a ‘love-in’ for CEOs and Yes advocates

Peter Dutton has responded to a challenge from Anthony Albanese to travel with him to a major festival this weekend.

Peter Dutton has defended his decision not to attend the Garma festival, claiming it will be a “love-in” for advocates and companies bankrolling the Yes campaign.

The opposition leader was responding to the challenge by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to spend “more time in the red dirt” and attend the festival in northeast Arnhem Land with him this weekend.

But Mr Dutton said he already knows “what people in Aboriginal communities are saying”.

“I’ve been up to northeast Arnhem Land twice this year. I’ve been to … Aboriginal communities in WA. I’ve been to Alice Springs, I’ve been to Darwin,” he told Sydney’s 2GB.

He said Garma was a “celebration and a good thing” but described the festival being occupied by “chief executives and others from publicly listed companies” funding the Yes campaign.

Mr Dutton says the festival will be a “love-in”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“It will be a love-in firm for the Yes advocates and proponents, and that’s fine,” Mr Dutton said.

“I’m not going up there to pretend that I’m somebody that I’m not. I’m a genuine person. Straightforward. I’ve looked at this meticulously, I’m not supporting the Voice.

“I’m not going up there to try and get pat’s on the back from CEOs of all of these major Australian companies. I’ve told them what I think of their position and I’m not supporting it because I think it’ll be a devastation for our country. I think we’ll divide Australians.”

In recent days, the Coalition has used question time to press the government on the Voice to parliament, raising fears it will open the door to on a treaty process will result in reparations.

Mr Albanese ruled out the federal government starting a treaty process in this term of parliament, stressing the states were moving ahead with their own processes when asked on Wednesday.

Anthony Albanese has been criticised for ducking the question. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

But the opposition claims the Prime Minister has avoided questions about his commitment to the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full, which includes a Makarrata commission for truth-telling and treaty.

The independent commission was allocated $5.8m in the October 2022 budget.

Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley, who has been leading the charge, accused the Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney of ducking her responsibility to explain the role of the commission.

“We need good, sensible, reasonable explanations that actually explain what this means and how much it will cost,” Ms Ley said.

Ms Burney told the chamber on Wednesday the government’s priority was on the referendum, and a Makarrata commission would not be progressed until after.

Sussan Ley has been leading the Coalition's attacks on the Makarrata commission. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Our priority is constitutional recognition through a Voice. Our priority is recognition, listening and getting better results,” she said.

“The 2023 referendum is an opportunity to advance reconciliation and move Australia forward for everyone.”

Assistant Minister Malarndirri McCarthy described the ongoing argument over treaty just “another distraction” from the No campaign.

“We have had so many things thrown at us over the last six to eight months in the lead-up to this, and this is another distraction, really,” she told the Today show.

“When we look at what this message is all about in terms of the referendum and the question to the Australian people, it is about recognition.”

Originally published as Peter Dutton claims Garma festival will be a ‘love-in’ for CEOs and Yes advocates