29 July, 2024

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) congratulates Wiradjuri woman and Minister for Indigenous Australians, The Hon. Linda Burney, for her advocacy and passion for making a difference in Aboriginal people’s lives after announcing her retirement last week.

NSWALC Chairperson, Cr Raymond Kelly, hailed Ms Burney’s commitment to public service, reconciliation and Closing the Gap.

“Linda is a trailblazer and has made life easier for the people who will follow in her footsteps,’’ Cr Kelly said.

“During the Voice referendum, what will stay with me is her grace, humility and integrity. Faced with challenges, her optimism and focus on improving life for the community has never wavered.

“Linda understood the significance of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act and deeply valued the achievements of Local Aboriginal Land Councils. Her ongoing support of land rights and the network were greatly appreciated,” Chairperson Kelly said.

Before she entered NSW and later the Federal Parliament, Ms Burney worked tirelessly to achieve better outcomes in education and justice. In 1979 she began teaching at Lethbridge Park Public School in western Sydney and became involved in the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (NSW AECG), one of the NSW CAPO partners.

“When she moved to the NSW Department of Education, she was instrumental in developing and implementing its Aboriginal Education Policy (the first of its kind in Australia),” Chairperson Kelly said. “Through her presidency at AECG, she embedded the value and principles of negotiation with Aboriginal communities through the AECG on all Aboriginal education policy and issues; a momentous and important change benefitting our communities for generations to come.’’

Ms Burney rose to become Deputy Director General of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs (NSW) from 1998 to 1999, and Director General of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs (NSW) from 2000 to 2003. She received the NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.

Ms Burney has represented the Sydney seat of Barton since 2016, when she became the first Aboriginal woman elected to the House of Representatives, and later the first Aboriginal woman to serve as Indigenous Australians minister. Previously Ms Burney was the first Aboriginal person to be elected to the NSW Parliament, where she served for more than a decade as Member for Canterbury.

We wish her all the best in her next role, where, I’m sure, she will continue to make a valuable contribution, Chairperson Kelly said.

NSWALC is looking forward to working with Ms Burney’s replacement, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, who was announced on the weekend as the next Indigenous Australians Minister.

Senator McCarthy has represented the Northern Territory since 2016 and was the Assistant Minister in the Indigenous Australians portfolio.