Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney reveals ‘ministroke’ and heart surgery

Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney says she’s “fighting fit” for the Voice referendum after revealing her recent medical struggles.

Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney has revealed she underwent heart surgery following a mini-stroke in 2020. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney says she’s “fighting fit” for the Voice referendum after revealing she underwent heart surgery following a ministroke three years ago.

Ms Burney made the decision to publicly speak out about her medical condition after growing private speculation about changes to her speech, saying she was now well and “fully focused” on her job as a minister and the MP for Barton in Sydney’s inner west.

The 66-year-old said in May 2020 she was admitted to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital with “transient weakness and numbness in my arm”.

“I am pleased to say I made a full recovery,” she said.

A transient ischaemic attack, or TIA, is a brief attack similar to a stroke that resolves fully within about 24 hours.

Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney has been travelling around remote Australia to places like north East Arnhem land to discuss the Voice. Picture: Tamati Smith/Getty Images

Ms Burney said she then had surgery for a hole in her heart in 2020 and was “treated with medication”.

She thanked people who had reached out to her to offer support in the wake of her personal news.

“Your kindness means the world to me,” she said.

“I am fighting fit and looking forward to travelling the country and having conversations with Australians about the need for constitutional recognition through a Voice.

“I am fully focused on my job as minister and MP and don’t intend to speak about these personal health matters any further.”

Following the health revelation, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said everyone who knew Ms Burney respected her for her “incredible strength and tenacity”.

“Linda has faced far more than her share of adversity and tragedy in life, but she’s never lost her faith in people or her determination to make Australia a better place,” he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney campaigned together for the Voice in Brisbane this month. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

A TIA “has no lasting impact on how well you can walk, move, swallow, think, talk or see,” according to the Stroke Foundation.

In an interview for ABC TV’s Kitchen Cabinet with Annabel Crabb due to air on Tuesday night, Ms Burney said as a result of her medical treatments her “voice has changed”.

“What’s happened is I’ve had surgery that’s affected my voice,” she said.

“I get too much oxygen in my lungs, so I need to expel that oxygen before I give a speech or go to Question Time.”

Ms Burney has travelled extensively to remote communities around Australia to discuss local issues and answer questions about the Voice proposal, with multiple visits to northern Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland so far this year.

She was in Alice Springs last week to announce a $18.4 million investment to double early intervention efforts to address issues like ADHD, autism and foetal alcohol spectrum disorders among Indigenous children in Central Australia.