Albanese to Address Alleged Terror Attack in Annual Closing the Gap Speech
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will use his annual Closing the Gap parliamentary address to acknowledge the "shock and fear" experienced by First Nations communities following the alleged terrorist attack in Perth on January 26th. The prime minister's speech, scheduled for Thursday to mark the 18th anniversary of the apology to members of the stolen generations, will directly confront the racism and white supremacy ideology behind the alleged bombing attempt.
Addressing the Perth Incident
The alleged attack occurred during an Invasion Day rally attended by more than 2,500 people at Forest Place in Perth's central business district. According to police reports, a 31-year-old man allegedly threw what authorities described as a homemade fragment bomb containing screws and ball-bearings surrounded by explosive liquid. Fortunately, the device failed to detonate.
The suspect has been charged with multiple offenses including:
- Committing an unlawful act with intent to harm
- Making or possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances
- Engaging in a terrorist act
In his prepared remarks, Albanese states: "I know that since the alleged terrorist attack in Perth, many of you have been providing comfort to people grappling with shock and fear. People imagining how much worse things could have been."
Substantial New Funding Announcements
Beyond addressing security concerns, the prime minister will announce significant new funding for Indigenous programs across multiple critical areas. This funding is specifically designed to help states and territories meet the revised Closing the Gap targets, with the annual report revealing that only four of the nineteen targets remain on track for 2026.
The comprehensive funding package includes:
- $144.1 million for Aboriginal community controlled health services, supplementing the $450 million already announced through national hospital funding agreements
- $27.4 million to reduce prices for 30 essential items at 149 additional remote community stores through the low-cost essentials subsidy scheme
- $299 million to double participation in the remote jobs and economic development program from 3,000 to 6,000 participants
- $218.3 million to support the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander plan to end family, domestic and sexual violence
- $44.4 million for culturally-safe maternal care through the Birthing on Country program
- $13.9 million to extend hours and add text support services to the First Nations crisis hotline 13Yarn
Closing the Gap Progress and Challenges
The annual Closing the Gap report to be tabled in parliament reveals concerning trends, with four targets either stalled or regressing, including efforts to reduce suicide rates in Indigenous communities. Despite these challenges, Albanese will emphasize the importance of perseverance, stating: "Failure is a word for those who have stopped trying – or given up listening. I make this clear today: I am not contemplating failure. Our government is not contemplating failure. We are determined to succeed."
Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy emphasized that these investments represent a fundamental shift in how governments collaborate with First Nations communities, ensuring policies and programs are developed through genuine partnership.
Community Leadership and Future Directions
The revised Closing the Gap framework, redesigned in 2020 through collaboration with peak Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organizations, emphasizes community-led solutions. Scott Wilson, deputy lead convener of the coalition of peaks, stressed that "First Nations people and organisations must be the ones to lead the solutions to closing the gap."
Albanese's speech comes amid weeks of calls from First Nations communities and independent Indigenous senator Lidia Thorpe for a comprehensive investigation into potential intelligence or policing failures preceding the Perth incident. The prime minister's address will reaffirm the government's commitment to Indigenous rights and safety while announcing substantial practical measures to address systemic inequalities.
