Biography

Parliamentary service

• Territory: Elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly for Arnhem in 2005. Re-elected in 2008. Defeated at general elections in 2012.
• Federal: Elected to the Senate for the Northern Territory 2016. Re-elected 2019 and 2022.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 18.10.2017 to 22.7.2019.

Ministerial appointments

• Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health from 1.6.2022 to 29.7.2024.
• Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians from 1.6.2022 to 29.7.2024.
• Minister for Indigenous Australians from 29.7.2024.
• Cabinet Minister from 29.7.2024.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Constitutional Recognition Relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (2018) served from 26.3.2018 to 29.11.2018
• Joint Standing: National Disability Insurance Scheme served from 12.9.2016 to 11.10.2016; National Capital and External Territories served from 12.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Northern Australia served from 12.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 20.3.2017 to 9.5.2017; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 14.8.2017 to 11.4.2022; National Capital and External Territories served from 28.7.2022 to 14.8.2024
• Joint Statutory: Law Enforcement served from 15.9.2016 to 1.12.2016
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 30.8.2016 to 14.12.2017; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 2.7.2019 to 16.3.2021; Community Affairs: References served from 2.7.2019 to 16.3.2021; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 16.3.2021 to 1.6.2022; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 16.3.2021 to 1.6.2022; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 24.6.2021 to 1.6.2022
• Senate Select: Stillbirth Research and Education served from 28.3.2018 to 5.4.2018; Stillbirth Research and Education served as Chair from 6.4.2018 to 4.12.2018; Effectiveness of the Australian Government's Northern Australia Agenda served from 22.7.2019 to 28.4.2021; Aboriginal Flag served from 3.9.2020 to 3.9.2020; Aboriginal Flag served as Chair from 4.9.2020 to 13.10.2020

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 02.07.2016 to present
• Opposition Deputy Whip in the Senate from 2.7.2019 to 11.4.2022.

Personal

• Born: 1970, Katherine, Australia
• Gender: Female
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander: Yes

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Journalist for ABC News and Current Affairs from 1989 to 2005.
• Presenter for SBS/NITV News from 2012 to 2016.
• Freelance journalist for Malarndirri Media, 2016.

State/Territory Government service

• Elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly for Arnhem in 2005. Re-elected in 2008. Defeated at general elections in 2012.
• Minister Assisting the Chief Minister on Multicultural Affairs from 18.8.2008 to 8.2.2009.
• Minister for Children and Families from 18.8.2008 to 3.12.2009.
• Minister for Child Protection from 18.8.2008 to 3.12.2009.
• Minister for Statehood from 18.8.2008 to 28.8.2012.
• Minister for Senior Territorians and Young Territorians from 18.8.2008 to 5.8.2009.
• Minister for Women's Policy from 18.8.2008 to 28.8.2012.
• Minister Assisting the Chief Minister on Education from 9.2.2009 to 5.8.2009.
• Minister for Indigenous Policy from 6.8.2009 to 3.12.2009.
• Minister for Local Government from 4.12.2009 to 28.8.2012.
• Minister for Regional Development from 4.12.2009 to 28.8.2012.
• Minister for Indigenous Development from 4.12.2009 to 28.8.2012.
• Minister for Tourism from 4.12.2009 to 28.8.2012.

Honours

• Received the Inaugural Deadly Award for Journalism, 2013.
• Received a Walkleys nomination, 2013.
• Received a Walkleys nomination, 2014.
• Awarded Journalist of the Year at the Multicultural and Indigenous Media Awards (MIMA), 2014.
• Received a Logies nomination, 2015.