The Silent Shift: Absence of Prominent Yes Campaigners at the Garma Festival

APS Blog

During the recent Garma Festival, the noticeable absence of leading Yes campaigners raised eyebrows. Marcia Langton, a well-known advocate for the Yes campaign, was nowhere to be seen. Equally absent were other prominent figures like Noel Pearson, as well as Uluru ‘dialogue leaders’ Megan Davis and Pat Anderson, along with the Uluru Delegates. This void has led many to question the current state of the Yes campaign and the motivations behind it.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese took the stage in Parliament to reaffirm his commitment to the Voice initiative, renewing his pledge to support the Makarrata Commission-a process of truth-telling and reconciliation, defined as “coming together after a struggle.” Despite the Prime Minister’s continued dedication, the silence from key Yes campaigners suggests a deeper uncertainty.

Why, then, is Albanese pushing forward without visible backing from these prominent voices? The reality may be that figures like Marcia Langton are aware of the waning public support they once commanded. Their retreat from the spotlight could indicate a strategic shift, acknowledging that their previous bold approach failed to gain the traction they had hoped for.

Yet, despite this shift, the Prime Minister remains determined, advancing with significant social and financial commitments-many of which lack transparency and detail. Little is known about the specifics of the Makarrata process or the allocation of the committed millions. Albanese seems poised to drive the nation toward a critical vote, asking Australians to decide on an issue clouded in uncertainty.

Even though prominent Yes campaigners may have retreated, they still lend their political allegiance, with strong backing from Labor and the Greens.

ED: This is a summary of the full blog.