Pat Dodson slams Malcolm Turnbull for leaving Close The Gap breakfast early
Updated
Federal Labor frontbencher Pat Dodson has launched a blistering attack on the Prime Minister for leaving an Indigenous event early.
Key points:
- Breakfast event was launching Close the Gap report, which critiqued attempts to improve Indigenous equality
- Organisers were aware of PM's departure time, say event ran overtime
- Senator Dodson described management of Indigenous affairs portfolio as "hopeless"
The Aboriginal leader said Malcolm Turnbull's move was "indicative of the deafness of the absolute derision and the contempt which this government is meting out to the Aboriginal people".
"He may have had something important to do, but he should have stayed there and listened," Senator Dodson said.
Mr Turnbull left about 20 minutes before an hour-long breakfast to launch the Close the Gap report ended.
The report delivered a scathing critique of attempts to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inequality.
The assessment was produced by a coalition of non-government organisations, which believe the Government has "abandoned" the Closing the Gap agenda.
Senator Dodson said it was wrong for Mr Turnbull to walk out "on a major report by reputable Aboriginal leaders".
The West Australian is the shadow assistant minister for Indigenous affairs and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
He later described the Government as "hopeless" and slammed its management of the Indigenous affairs portfolio.
The Prime Minister's Office said he had to leave about 8:30am because he had another commitment.
The spokesman said organisers were aware of Mr Turnbull's departure time, and that the event ran overtime.
Close the Gap campaign founder Tom Calma said organisers "knew what time the Prime Minister had to leave".
"I think it's never a good look when we've all come together," Dr Calma said.
"But that's circumstances, and it wasn't a surprise; we knew what time he had to leave.
"He'll get a copy of the speech, of what we said."
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