Price slams Albo: He’s lost his Voice and then forgot us

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price says Anthony Albanese has been missing in action on Indigenous issues ever since the Voice to parliament referendum failed nearly two months ago. Watch the video.

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has accused the prime minister of being missing in action on Indigenous issues ever since the Voice to parliament referendum failed nearly two months ago.

“Where has he been on any of these issues, he had to be shamed into coming to Alice Springs in February and he hasn’t been back (since the referendum,” the shadow Minister for Aboriginal Australians said.

“We haven’t heard from him since the failing of the Voice on any issues regarding Indigenous Australians, our most marginalised, it’s quite disappointing that the prime minister appears to have abandoned this particular issue altogether right now.”

“In fact, I don’t think he has fronted up to a media conference (on this issue) from what I’ve hard since October 22.”

“Where are you, Albo?

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices on Bligh Street in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

An analysis of press conference transcripts distributed by the prime minister’s office found that the last time the referendum was raised in a press conference in Australia was on October 22, shortly before Mr Albanese left to visit the United States.

A reporter asked Mr Albanese about the Voice a few days later in Washington, with the prime minister saying he would “respond back in Australia”.

Anthony Albanese delivers a statement on the ‘No’ outcome of the Voice Referendum at Parliament House in Canberra on Saturday, October 14, 2023.

Ms Price accused the government of “not having a plan B or a backup plan, or in fact any plan at all, other than trying to establish a Voice to come up with ideas that this government doesn’t appear to be coming up with themselves.”

The shadow minister also said that despite $250 million in funding being announced to help tackle anti-social behaviour in Alice Springs, “nothing has changed on the ground.”

“A good friend of mine who works in security was driving a security car and was rammed by a stolen vehicle and then pursued by the children who had stolen this vehicle, and she was hospitalised as a result,” she said.

“This crime continues to occur on the streets of Alice Springs … as far as I know Anthony Albanese has not made any trip back there,” she said.

Ms Price said that proponents of the Voice still had not “come to terms with the reasons why Australians voted ‘no’”.

“The polling demonstrates that the reason why Australians voted no was because they didn’t want a country divided along the lines of race. They believe in equality.”

“And they didn’t believe that the voice was going to produce the outcomes that are needed to improve the lives of anybody, particularly our most marginalised.”

A debate that has PM deep in the weeds

By Angira Bharadwaj

The failed Voice referendum dominated Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s media appearances over a 12 month period, analysis by The Daily Telegraph has revealed.

Political capital lost on a referendum is adding to the Albanese Government’s chaotic end of the year, which has seen more than 100 detainees released from immigration detention and criticism of extensive overseas travel.

Labor sources said conversations had taken place on the growing issue of voters struggling with the cost of living.

Analysis of Mr Albanese’s media appearances revealed he spoke about the Voice at 224 events either on his own or in direct response to questions.

He spoke about the cost of living or answered questions about it on 106 occasions with another 44 events referencing “relief”, “pressures” or “support” measures.

Commentary from Mr Albanese on the Voice peaked between May and October and on some days he spoke about it at as many as seven media appearances.

In that period, there were successive interest rate rises.

The Voice also dominated parliamentary question time, with the Opposition asking 97 of their total 464 questions on the issue, while 68 questions were about the cost of living.

More than 60 per cent of respondents in a recent voter poll believed Labor was not doing enough on the cost of living.

Regeneration Media director Natalie McKenna said Mr Albanese’s brand was “very negatively” impacted by the referendum.

“People are thinking about the cost of living, they are feeling a little hard done by and feel the Prime Minister hasn’t put enough effort in,” Ms McKenna said.

A spokesman for Mr Albanese said: “The overwhelming majority of these references were answers to questions specifically about the Voice.”

“We kept our pledge to hold a referendum, just like we’ve delivered cheaper child care, cheaper medicines.

“The biggest investment in social and public housing in a decade and energy bill relief.”