List of Indigenous Australians in politics and public service
Numerous Indigenous Australians have been notable for their contributions to politics, including participation in governments and activism in Australia. Others are noted for their public service, generally and in specific areas like law and education.
Politics and government
By 1962-65 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders were granted universal suffrage.
Neville Bonner was the first Indigenous man to (successfully) run for an election in 1971. Pat Eatock was the first Indigenous woman to (unsuccessfully) run for an election in 1972.[1] Politicians
The first Indigenous Australian to have been elected to a parliament in Australia was Neville Bonner in 1971. Following from that, 32 Indigenous Australians have been elected to a state, territory or federal parliament. Twelve of those elected have been women. Of those elected, seventeen have been elected to the Northern Territory assembly, five to the Australian Federal Parliament, four to the parliament of Western Australia, three to the parliament of Queensland and one each to the parliaments of Tasmania and New South Wales and one to the Australian Capital Territory assembly. Nobody of acknowledged Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander ancestry has been a member of the parliaments of South Australia or Victoria or of the Norfolk Island assembly
Ernie Bridge was the first Indigenous Australian to become a minister in a government. Marion Scrymgour was the first Indigenous woman to become a minister and has to date been the highest ranked Indigenous woman in a government, when she became Deputy Chief Minister of the Northern Territory from 2007 until 2009. Adam Giles was the first Indigenous Australian to lead a government as Chief Minister of the Northern Territory in 2013.
Pat Dixon was the first Aboriginal woman elected to Local Government in Australia.
Governors/Governor Generals
Douglas Nicholls was the first Indigenous Australian Governor of an Australian state ((Governor of South Australia)).
Party Leaders
This list only includes those who held party leadership positions outside of a parliament.
Warren Mundine was the first Indigneous Australian to become National President of the Australian Labor Party.
There have been various leaders of the Australia's First Nations Political Party, however no candidate from this party has been successful in an election.
Public servants
Name | Contribution | References |
---|---|---|
Clark, GeoffGeoff Clark | led the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) | |
Djerrkura, GatjilGatjil Djerrkura | led ATSIC | |
Grant, StanStan Grant | ||
Hammond, RubyRuby Hammond | ||
Miller, DamienDamien Miller | first Indigenous person appointed to head an Australian overseas mission (appointed Ambassador to Denmark, Norway and Iceland 2013) | [2] |
Neidjie, Big BillBig Bill Neidjie | Last Gagudju speaker, and central figure in the foundation of Kakadu National Park | |
O'Donoghue, LowitjaLowitja O'Donoghue | led ATSIC | |
Perkins, CharlesCharles Perkins | ||
Sykes, BobbiBobbi Sykes | ||
Williams, NevilleNeville Williams | ||
Yunupingu, GalarrwuyGalarrwuy Yunupingu | ||
Yunupingu, MandawuyMandawuy Yunupingu |
Peter Shine
John Gorrie PSM First indigenous male to receive a public service medal for his contribution to public service.
Activists
- Faith Bandler
- Gordon Briscoe
- Robert Bropho
- Burnum Burnum
- Kevin Buzzacott
- Paul Coe
- Essie Coffey
- Ken Colbung
- Chicka Dixon
- Mick Dodson
- Pat Dodson
- Gary Foley
- Pearl Gibbs
- Ken Hampton
- Jacqui Katona
- Marcia Langton
- Yami Lester
- Vincent Lingiari
- Michael Mansell
- Yvonne Margarula
- Michael Mundine – CEO of the Redfern Aboriginal Housing Company
- Jack Patten
- Noel Pearson
- Mum (Shirl) Smith
- Harold Thomas – designer of Aboriginal flag
- Dennis Walker
- Peter Yu
- Galarrwuy Yunupingu
Educators
- Mick Dodson
- Jeannie Herbert
- Joe Fraser
- Wendy Brady
- Marcia Langton
Lawyers and judges
- Lloyd McDermott - first Indigenous lawyer
- Bob Bellear – first Indigenous judge
- Sue Gordon – magistrate
- Pat O'Shane – magistrate
- Matthew Myers (judge) – magistrate
- Rose Falla – magistrate