Nunggubuyu woman Selena Uibo and Yaegl man Dheran Young outside Parliament House in Darwin. Photo: Facebook.
Territory Labor has made Selena Uibo the first Indigenous woman to lead a major party in Australia’s history, following its overwhelming defeat at the election.
The Nunggubuyu woman and member for Arnhem, who was voted into the bush electorate in 2016, will have Dheran Young as her deputy. Mr Young is a Yaegl man who was elected to the seat of Daly in 2021.
In a caucus vote, the two were unanimously voted into party leadership and replaced former Chief Minister Eva Lawler and her deputy Chansey Peach.
“You know, being the first is an honour and a privilege, and it’s quite exciting, without being naïve to the huge challenge that is ahead,” said Ms Uibo.
“We always knew that trying to go for a third term of government was going to be difficult. It’s not just difficult in Australia, it’s difficult the world over.”
Despite the loss, Ms Uibo hopes the Commonwealth will grant the Top End “more voice” as new Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro attends National Cabinet in Canberra.
The new leader, as a former NT housing minister, is mindful the $4 billion Remote Housing partnership she signed with the Commonwealth is not under threat.
Chief Minister Finocchiaro outlined her ambitions for the National Cabinet meeting today (4 September), claiming she intended to give voice to the NT’s needs and aspirations.
“This is a chance to re-set our relationship and the agenda at a national level,” the Country Liberal Party said. “We are ready to work collaboratively with the Australian Government on economic development opportunities such as manufacturing at Middle Arm, gas, defence investment, and our major transport and freight corridors.
“To restore our Territory lifestyle and grow the population, our workforce and economy, we will keep pushing for changes to the zone tax offset and designated area migration agreement and more international students.”
Along with the high demand on police resources, the Chief Minister’s “priority issue for discussion” will be family and domestic violence.
“Under Territory Labor, domestic violence increased 81 per cent which means what has been happening for the last eight years is not working,” she said. “The Territory is disproportionately represented in the national DFV figures and more must be done.
“The new CLP Government has committed $180 million over five years, and to better protect victims through expanded electronic monitoring of offenders and additional resources for our police.”
Ms Finocchiaro was sworn in as the 14th Chief Minister of the NT last week.
Alongside Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley, she has formed an interim ministry.
“Law and order is the community’s first priority and we are on track to deliver our promised reforms in the first week of Parliament,” said the Chief Minister. “Economic growth must happen for the future of the Territory and will be a key focus of the CLP Government.
“The CLP has been given a mandate to deliver change for all Territorians and we look forward to deliver this change to make a better Territory for everyone.”
