First Nations
First Indigenous woman member of the House of Representatives
02 July 2016
Linda Burney becomes the first Indigenous woman elected to the House of Representatives.
The Hon. Linda Burney, of Wiradjuri heritage, was elected to the House of Representatives at the 2016 federal election. She was the first Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander woman to sit in the House and the second Indigenous women in the Australian Parliament after Nova Peris was elected to the Senate in 2013.
Prior to her election to the Australian Parliament, Linda Burney was the first Indigenous person to be elected to the NSW State Parliament at the 2003 NSW State election. In the NSW State Parliament Linda Burney served as Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Minister for Education and Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.
During her first speech, Burney wore a kangaroo skin cloak featuring the goanna, her clan totem and the white cockatoo, her personal totem. The cloak was made by fellow Wiradjuri woman, Lynette Riley who sang from the public gallery to welcome Burney to the chamber in the Wiradjuri language.
Linda Burney delivering her first speech in the House of Representatives, 31 August 2016
DPS AUSPIC/ David Foote
Linda Burney delivering her first speech in the House of Representatives, 31 August 2016
DPS AUSPIC/ David Foote
Description
Linda Burney, the first Indigenous woman member of the House of Representatives, delivers her first speech in the House of Representatives, 31 August 2016. She was elected to the division of Barton at the 2016 federal election. She is holding a kangaroo skin cloak.
Permission should be sought from DPS AUSPIC for third-party or commercial uses of this image. To contact DPS AUSPIC email: auspic@aph.gov.au or phone: 02 6277 3342.