Anthony Albanese slammed for ‘publicity stunt’ by Indigenous Senator

An Indigenous Senator has slammed Anthony Albanese after basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal appeared at the PM’s press conference.

An Indigenous Senator has called out Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for holding a press conference with NBA star Shaquille O’Neal.

During the press conference, which was held on Saturday, the basketball superstar was expected to express his support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, however after a some vague comments he quickly left.

Country Liberals Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price later spoke out, calling the PM’s publicity stunt “clueless and out of touch”.

The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, photographed in Sydney holding a press conference with Minister for indigenous Australians Linda Burney and NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

In a post to Facebook, Ms Nampijinpa expressed her disappointment in the PM.

She also said Aboriginal Australians have more in common with Native Americans than African-Americans.

“If the PM and Minister for indigenous Australians thinks Shaq’s experience with “lifting people up who are marginalised” is the answer to winning Yes votes for the Voice then it demonstrates just how clueless and out of touch they both are with what the needs of Aboriginal Australians are.

“I’ve no doubt Shaq’s a top bloke but it’s a bit insulting to call on a black American to help with black Australians as if this is all about the colour of one’s skin,” Ms Nampijinpa said.

She said the act was “shallow” as the country faces “such serious issues.”

The Prime Minister said Mr O’Neal had requested the meeting while in Sydney to learn about the referendum on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

Mr Albanese, who is 173cm tall, looked tiny in comparison to the NBA athlete, who stands at 216cm.

Mr O’Neal greeted both the PM and indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney, before pulling her hand upwards to touch his forehead.

A curious exchange between Shaquille O’Neal and the Minister for indigenous Australians Linda Burney, as he reaches her hand to touch his forehead. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

'Hello Australia, nice to see you,' he said.

He then congratulated the PM and indigenous Affairs Minister, and said he wanted them to know “Shaq loves Australia”.

The prime minister said Ms Burney had presented the basketball legend with a boomerang, which he joked may need a “special customs clearance” to get past border control.

For his part, Mr Albanese presented Mr O’Neal with a South Sydney Indigenous jersey and South’s jersey.

The prime minister said they had a warm meeting and talked about Mr O’Neal’s interest in advancing the Voice to parliament, as well as his charity work, basketball and rugby league.Ms Burney said Mr O’Neal’s participation shows the international interest in an Indigenous voice, which will require Australia to have a referendum.

NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal pictured at the door before The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, press conference with Minister for indigenous Australians Linda Burney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

“I’m really pleased and very proud that Shaq has sought a request through the prime minister to specifically talk about the plans that we have in relation to a referendum,” she said.

“He said it was a noble task, that it was important, and I think the most significant thing in what the prime minister has said is that we need to build a broad based support across the country for a referendum change.

“It’s not easy in Australia. We all know that.”

Mr Albanese said the basketball player’s support was important in order to get more Australians engaged on the issue of the referendum.

“We want to build the broadest possible support and we want to engage with people who can connect with young people in particular, but with all sections of our society,” he said.

“Shaq has at that record, particularly when it comes to bringing people together of different backgrounds which is consistent with our approach to a constitutionally recognised Voice to parliament and recognising that Australian history didn’t begin in 1788.”

Ms Burney said the upcoming referendum on an Indigenous Voice to parliament is “for the Australian people”.“As the Prime Minister said, it is about making everyone proud, and filling that glaring omission in our birth certificate of and recognising First Peoples,” she said.

There is no date set for when the referendum might be held, but the government has indicated it will be before the next election in three years’ time.

Originally published as Anthony Albanese slammed for ‘publicity stunt’ by Indigenous Senator