In a debate that spanned cost-of-living pressures, national security, and housing, Indigenous Affairs were barely mentioned.
During Wednesday night’s leaders debate between Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton, held just weeks out from the federal election, First Nations issues were raised once — not by the candidates themselves, but by moderator David Speers.
The segment lasted only minutes, despite the presentation of confronting
The timing hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2022, on the night of his election victory, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese opened his first speech to the nation with a commitment to the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full — Voice, Treaty, Truth — calling it a priority for his new government.
But in 2025, amid a high-stakes re-election campaign, Albanese has made little mention of policies that will improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Neither he nor Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has visited a remote Indigenous community during the campaign — something Speers called out directly during the debate.
“Neither of you have visited an Indigenous community so far in this election campaign,” Speers said.
“What are Indigenous Australians to make of that?”
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton pointed to past trips.
“The campaign isn't just made up of the last 15 days… we went to Alice Springs and we spoke to a lot of people after the Voice… where people were devastated because the practical assistance promised by the Prime Minister hasn’t been delivered and the country was divided.”
Dutton accused the government of causing “a lot of damage” with its push for a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament.
Speers questioned the Prime Minister on the latest Closing the Gap data, highlighting the widening disparities in suicide rates between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, as well as the increasing number of Indigenous children in out-of-home care.
In response, Albanese acknowledged the ongoing failures of both major parties to adequately support First Nations communities.
“Neither side of politics has done well enough… That’s something that breaks my heart," he said.
He cited post-referendum investments in Indigenous health, housing, and education — including TAFE pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples — and efforts to move beyond “work-for-the-dole” style programs into real jobs.
“We’re putting additional funds into health, particularly areas like dialysis. We have a ten-year program on remote housing. We are pumping record funding into schools… particularly in areas like Cape York and the Northern Territory,” the Prime Minister said.
When asked if the government had moved on from the Uluru Statement and its three pillars, including treaty, Albanese said he accepts the outcome.
“We accept the decision of the Australian people in that referendum… We put forward a proposition that was asked for. We took up the gracious request of First Nations people made at Uluru in 2017.”
Dutton also acknowledged the gravity of the Closing the Gap data.
“It’s heartbreaking to see those figures… there’s been a desire to invest as much money as is required to see those terrible outcomes improve and it hasn’t happened.”
He referenced Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s criticisms of how programs are delivered and suggested scaling up successful models in certain communities.
“There are some amazing stories where you see 90 per cent attendance rates at school… functioning society where people are going to work… better health outcomes.
"There is a leadership aspect within some of those communities, which is exemplary,” Dutton said.
But no new policies or measurable targets were offered by either leader.
