Press conference - Uluru

MARION SCRYMGOUR, SPECIAL ENVOY FOR REMOTE COMMUNITIES: It's fantastic to be here, and to be here particularly with the Prime Minister. This isn't the first time we've been here. The Prime Minister and I were here during the referendum and sitting on country with Anangu women and talking about the importance, and just how important law and history and culture is for Anangu in this country. So to be here to celebrate 40 years of this fantastic rock that's behind us, you know, what is sacred and important to all Anangu. It is important to be here, and I am so grateful that the Prime Minister, with all of the visits that he's got to do internationally, that he's been able to come and be part of this important celebration. So, without further ado, I'll hand over to our PM.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, thanks very much, Marion. And I'm very proud to be here and to be your friend and to have you as a member of our team in Canberra representing this local community, and to be here as well with representatives from our team in the Northern Territory Parliament. And it is indeed a great honour to be the first Prime Minister to be at a celebration of the handback. This was a significant event 40 years ago, of the Commonwealth of Australia handing back land here to the Anangu people, really fulfilling a commitment that was made by Bob Hawke upon coming to office in 1983. Just an example of the difference that a government that has respect for all Australians has shown. And it must be said that this extraordinary place of beauty and spiritual significance for the Anangu people, is indeed always, I think, overwhelming for anyone who puts their eyes on it, but importantly, as well, feels the significance of this very sacred place. As you drive towards the rock, the light has an impact, and just as it has in the hearts, essentially of the Australian people, it is of course, the heart of the Australian continent. And what we see here is a symbol of significance for Anangu people, but indeed for all Indigenous Australians and First Nations people. A symbol that is recognised right around the entire world as signifying Australia. And indeed the Anangu people, of course, have been generous in welcoming everyone from around Australia, but also from right around the world, to this place of such significance for them, that I believe is a significant place for all Australian people. Happy to take couple of questions

JOURNALIST: Two years on from the failed Voice Referendum, the first time you've returned to Uluru and Anangu country. You were fairly moved last time you were here. Do you have any regrets?

PRIME MINISTER: I accept the result of the referendum. That is, course not what we desired. I'll make this point: for the whole of my life I will be forever grateful for the generosity of the Traditional Owners in particular, the leaders, the women who did a dance and song to show respect to the Prime Minister of Australia. It's something I'll never forget. That stays in my heart as much as this rock is the heart of this continent.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, it's 40 years of joint management. What does the 40 years say about joint management, when you have Aboriginal voices having a say in their country? What does something like this say to the rest of Australia? There's sometimes fear that if Aboriginal people have joint management, we'll lose access to national parks, beaches, etc. So, there is a bit of a fear campaign when it comes to Aboriginal people having a say. Well, what does 40 years of this place say about joint management?

PRIME MINISTER: 40 years of joint management tells us that it's in the interest, not just for First Nations people to have justice, but we're all uplifted and enriched as a nation when we have justice for First Nations people. This sacred place has been cared for. It's open, it's accessible. It is indeed a place of great significance for Australians. It should be a great source of pride that 40 years ago, the Hawke Government had the courage and leadership to make this decision. This wasn't something that was not uncontroversial at the time, just as the decision to stop people climbing was a controversial decision. But it was the right decision that showed respect. And when we give justice to any section of Australian people, we uplift everyone in the nation. And that's what the decision 40 years ago did. And the management here has been extraordinary. This is - I've had the opportunity to come here as a tourist. Firstly, the first time I came here, it just struck me as being so powerful. And you got the sense of spiritual significance, which as a non-Indigenous Australian, I think you can feel here. And I've had the opportunity to visit on a number of occasions. The fact that anytime you look - in between time, while this conference has been going on, the light has changed What it looks like. It's quite an extraordinary place. And we should be so proud, including particularly proud of the joint management which has occurred here.

JOURNALIST: Could I just ask for your reflections about other decisions that have been about around country since that handback moment?

PRIME MINISTER: It's the right decision, and change is hard. We have continued to do what we can to advance reconciliation. I put forward the referendum, and I put forward the referendum in the form that Indigenous People themselves asked for when they met here at Uluru in 2017, under the former government, which asked them to undertake a process of what form recognition should take. I respected First Nations people in that process, in the First Nations constitutional convention that took place on this very site. So, in terms of outcomes, of course, it wasn't what I wanted or what I voted for. But change is hard. But progress occurs. Doesn't occur in a straight line. That's not easy. Hard things are worth doing, but we accept the outcome. We work on other ways of achieving reconciliation and advancing the interests of First Nations people, including close the gap. But we also should recognise the gains that are made. And I'm optimistic. I walk into the Parliament now and see people like Marion, I see Malarndirri McCarthy as the Indigenous Affairs Minister, my very dear friend Linda Burney, who played such a significant role - what I see is advances occur. In my lifetime the other referendum that was successful, of course, in my lifetime to give first proper recognition, essentially, not recognition of the Constitution, which still, I think is unfortunate, it doesn't recognise that history began in 1770, or 1788. And we should be so proud that countless generations of First Nations people have regarded this site as being important. And I think it's an important site for all Australians. And I'm very pleased to be here, and I look forward to the commemoration that will take place. I'm sure it will be, amongst other things, it's going to be fun.

JOURNALIST: Would you honeymoon at Uluru?

PRIME MINISTER: With due respect, see these things here? Good try. But they're cameras as well. And I'm very pleased to be accompanied here by Jodie Haydon as well, my fiancé. And we'll be doing that bit privately.