As the proud official media partner of the Garma Festival, the country’s biggest gathering of First Nations politics and culture, the ABC will this weekend bring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, stories and culture to all Australians.
For 25 years at the Garma Festival, the Yothu Yindi Foundation has brought together Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in north-east Arnhem Land through discussion forums, art, music, film, song, dance and exhibitions.
Yothu Yindi Foundation CEO Denise Bowden said the ABC’s coverage of the event was comprehensive and vital, “The ABC shares the culture and conversations of Garma with a large national audience, which is so important in ensuring Yolngu voices continue to be heard, while giving Australians a better insight into the realities of life in remote Indigenous communities” she said.
This year’s theme ‘Rom ga Waŋa Wataŋu’, or ‘The Law of the Land, Standing Firm’ acknowledges the achievements of the festival, paying tribute to the many Yolngu clan leaders over the years, whose legacy continues to be felt throughout the nation.
2025 marks a key moment in Indigenous Politics. Three months on from the Australian Labor Party’s landslide election victory, all Australians will be watching the festival for an update from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the Government’s direction on Indigenous Affairs and policy.
From Friday 1 August ABC News will deliver news, reporting and analysis from the Festival on all ABC NEWS platforms.
The ABC has a long history as the media partner of the Festival. In this celebratory year the national public broadcaster’s partnership will be led by Director, First Nations Strategy Kelly Williams.
Ms Williams said: “The 25th anniversary of Garma is an important milestone and one the ABC is celebrating with coverage led by senior Indigenous journalists whose careers have grown through covering this event. It is a wonderful moment to have Bridget Brennan and Isabella Higgins leading the coverage around Indigenous affairs and Dan Bourchier doing live crosses into News Breakfast and other programs.”
ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks: “I’m really looking forward to attending such an important cultural event in support of both the partnership and the ABC’s truly impressive team of Indigenous on-air presenters and management executives in the work they do for the ABC.
“We have an important opportunity before us to strengthen the relationships we have with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and industry organisations in the telling of important First Nations stories across the ABC’s diverse range of media platforms, at a scale and with an impact that reaches as many Australians as possible.”
The Garma Festival is held at Gulkula, about 40 kilometres from the town of Nhulunbuy in North-East Arnhem Land, a prominent ceremonial place for the Gumatj clan of the Yolŋu people.
ABC NEWS coverage will be overseen by Head, International and Indigenous News Suzanne Dredge and led from the Festival by a team of experienced Indigenous ABC journalists, producers, and technical specialists.