Victoria’s first indigenous woman MP will fight for aboriginal rights

THE first indigenous woman has been sworn in to Victoria’s 161-year-old parliament and has vowed to make sure aboriginal voices are heard.

Lidia Thorpe is congratulated after making her maiden speech in Parliament. Picture: AAP

THE first indigenous woman has been sworn in to Victoria’s 161-year-old parliament and has vowed to make sure aboriginal voices are heard.

In her maiden speech to Parliament Greens MP Lidia Thorpe said she wanted to set an example to aboriginal children that an indigenous woman, who was raised in public housing and left school at 14, could rise to be an elected representative.

THORPE’S NORTHCOTE WIN SPELLS TROUBLE FOR LABOR

“I promise that I will fight for you to have the opportunities that I never had,” Ms Thorpe said.

She said as the custodians of this land the aboriginal voice must be heard.

Lidia Thorpe is congratulated after making her maiden speech in Parliament. Picture: AAP

“Our First People must be at the centre of the decision-making process.”

Ms Thorpe trumped 90 years of Labor reign in the inner-Melbourne seat to win a by-election.

The Northcote by-election was forced by the cancer death of family violence minister Fiona Richardson.

The 44-year-old domestic violence survivor paid tribute to Ms Richardson and to a “long line of strong Aboriginal women relatives.”

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