Women’s Electoral Lobby thanks the Honourable Linda Burney MP: Welcomes new Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy. Women’s Electoral Lobby has always looked up to Linda Burney as one of Australia’s most powerful and trail- blazing women leaders.
Linda Burney, a Wiradjuri woman, is amongst the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders serving as a touchstone for WEL as we confront the terrible truths of our history and fight for an equal, caring and diverse society. Her life story has embodied experiences endemic to Australia’s racist and colonial past and present.
In her first speech to Federal Parliament she described how, 'Growing up as an Aboriginal child looking into the mirror of our country was difficult and alienating'.
'Your reflection in the mirror was at best ugly and distorted, and at worst non-existent.'
She has forged these experiences into her lifelong work to ensure that future generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people do not undergo the same discrimination and marginalisation.
We are profoundly grateful for the courage, tenacity, vision and relentless hard work that has driven her to achieve so much as a teacher, educator and campaigner, a public servant, an elected parliamentarian at state and federal levels and a Cabinet Minister.
Linda Burney inspired WEL’s campaign for the Yes vote in September 2023. The defeat of the referendum was profoundly sad for us and millions of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Nevertheless, demonstrating the persistence and optimism characteristic of her leadership she observed, "There were some terrific things that came out of it in my view: really high yes votes in Aboriginal communities;
young Aboriginal leaders and Torres Strait leaders taking their place and coming forward; and, of course, 6.2 million Australians saying yes."
WEL looks forward to the next stage of Linda Burney’s contribution to our common task of making Australia a more equal and just country for Indigenous people.
We welcome the new Minister for Indigenous Australians Senator Malarndirri McCarthy and wish her well as she takes on the torch from Linda Burney.
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