On the weekend, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese returned to the Garma Festival in north-east Arnhem Land, where he spoke for the fourth time in as many years. This year's focus was less on symbolism and voice, and more on education and empowerment, as the gap between Indigenous and other Australians remains achingly wide.

Parliament hasn't been sitting this week in Canberra, but the ramifications of recent federal budget decisions continue to ripple out, with the student debts of three million Australians rising 7.1 percent, in line with inflation.

With many in the Northern Rivers coming to terms with how much worse the already desperate housing crisis is after the floods, today the Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Jason Clare, and Member for Richmond, Justine Elliot, were in Mullumbimby to speak to Byron Shire Councillors about finding a way forward.