NT land councils welcome Ken Wyatt as Minister for Indigenous Affairs

Northern Territory land councils have welcomed the historic appointment of Ken Wyatt as Australia’s first indigenous Minister for Indigenous Affairs

Western Australian Liberal Ken Wyatt has been named Minister for Indigenous Affairs. AAP Image/Joel Carrett

Northern Territory land councils have welcomed the historic appointment of Ken Wyatt as Australia’s first indigenous Minister for Indigenous Affairs, describing the moment as long overdue.

Mr Wyatt — a Noongar man from WA — was the first Aboriginal man to become a federal minister when he took on responsibility for aged care and indigenous health in 2017.

A spokesman from Mr Wyatt’s office said the new Indigenous Affairs Minister intended to visit the Territory “as soon as possible.”

Central Land Council CEO Joe Martin-Jard, who previously championed Mr Wyatt’s appointment, said they look forward to working with him.

Incredibly honoured to be the first Aboriginal Minister for Indigenous Australians, committed to working & walking together with our Elders, families & communities to ensure the greatness of our many nations is reflected in the greatness of our Australian nation, now and forever.

— Ken Wyatt MP (@KenWyattMP) May 26, 2019

“Mr Wyatt understands that having the elected representatives of Aboriginal people at the table when he reforms the work for the dole scheme and tackles the remote housing crisis will give these reforms the best chance of success,” he said.

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“He knows that having Aboriginal representatives involved in decision making will prevent the waste of tax dollars on unsuccessful programs we have seen in the past.

Northern Land Council chief executive Marion Scrymgour also agreed that Mr Wyatt was the man for the job.

“On behalf of traditional owners in the Top End we look forward to working closely with Minister Wyatt in his new role and would welcome his attendance at the NLC’s next Full Council meeting, to be held at Nitmiluk in late June,” he said.

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Barkly Mayor Steve Edgington said he hoped the Minister will visit Tennant Creek at some point in the near future, to see first-hand what’s happening with the Barkly Regional Deal.

Territory Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Selena Uibo said she also thought he should visit the NT “very soon” to discuss remote housing and Community Development Program (CDP) reform.

Labor Member for Lingiari Warren Snowdon saidhe had a good working relationship with Mr Wyatt and welcomed his appointment.

“I know him quite well and I think we can work collaboratively together as I have done in the past as Shadow Indigenous Health Minister,” he said.

“But as to what his policy position is on any area, I won’t know until I have had those discussions with him. My hope will be to try and ensure these policy areas are not partisan.”

NT senator Malarndirri McCarthy agreed that Mr Wyatt was the best choice for the job from the Coalition line-up.

“As a member of Labor’s First Nations caucus I have dealt directly with Ken over the term of the last parliament, and I always found him to be collegial and sympathetic to our concerns,” she said.

“Ken already knows how I and other Labor members feel about the unfairness of the Coalition’s CDP policy, and we will continue to press our case for change.

“I expect that Labor’s First Nations caucus will convene soon after the full Labor caucus meeting later this week, and we hope to continue positive conversations with the new Minister.”

Originally published as NT land councils welcome Ken Wyatt as Minister for Indigenous Affairs