NT’s top 10 most powerful advocates revealed for 2022
2022 was a year of reform in the NT. From landmark court cases to Territory rights, advocates have lobbied for their communities. Read about the most powerful change-makers.
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It’s been a year of reform for the Northern Territory and it wouldn’t have happened without the relentless advocates.
Today, we reveal the 10 most powerful advocates in the Northern Territory from various sectors, including Environment Centre NT co-director Kirsty Howey and Kumanjayi Walker’s cousin Samara Fernandez-Brown.
These Territorians worked hard to advocate for change in 2022 and still have enough steam to make a difference in 2023.
But where will they end up on the final Most Powerful 120 list?
The series of top 10s will culminate in the countdown to the much-anticipated Most Powerful 120.
10. Charlie King OAM, AM
Known for his gentle nature, broadcaster King is a familiar voice on the ABC’s Grandstand.
However, it is the Gurindji man’s thoughtful conversations that shine a light on domestic and family violence that earn him the number 10 spot.
A member of the Aboriginal Justice Agreement Board, King was present for the bipartisan signing of the agreement in 2022.
He has also fronted media to speak out about raising rates of violence in community, sport and families.
He speaks with authority, as a legacy of the Stolen Generation, about the continued impacts of alcohol and government policy on First Nations’ people.
9. Erina Early
Fierce advocate and United Workers Union NT secretary, Early has been the forefront of several major industrial actions against the NT government this year.
While initially losing the four-year pay freeze battle — with public servants initially accepting a cash bonus in in lieu of a raise — Early ended up winning the war after Chief Minister Natasha Fyles agreed to a 2 per cent pay rise in October.
And since stepping down as ALP party branch president, Early seems to have become even more outspoken.
Only in the Territory would the unions be at war with Labor.
Yet in this battle Early appears to have the power of NT’s teachers, nurses, health workers, firefighters, paramedics, corrections officers and public servants behind her.
8. Ruth Palmer
Palmer is the executive director of the Property Council of Australia NT and represents the interest of members in the property sector, and has advocated against anti-social behaviour.
Using her industry influence, she urged Alice Springs Council and the NT government to increase their response to crime in Alice Springs, which led to the controversial Social Order Response policy.
An industry leader, she continues to advocate for increased student accommodation and population growth in the NT.
She is well-known for pushing for public reporting, transparency and accountability in order to hold the NT government to account.
7. Paul McCue
A career police officer, McCue’s rise to president of the Northern Territory Police Union has forced him into the spotlight.
He was the man that walked shoulder-to-shoulder into court with Constable Zach Rolfe during his murder trial, while the NTPA funded the acquitted police officer’s lengthy defence.
A surge in police suicide in 2022 also sparked a vote-of-no-confidence in Commissioner Jamie Chalker, which McCue spearheaded from inside the NTPA.
While everyone might not agree with his point-of-view, no one can deny he has been an outspoken and powerful advocate for members of the Northern Territory police force.
6. Nicole Hucks
The country has again turned its attention to child protection and detention, with media zeroing in on the NT.
Yet despite only being the Acting Children’s Commissioner, Hucks has used the position to be accountable to mob and expose ongoing issues to the NT government.
The Larrakia/Arrernte woman has advocated for Aboriginal-led decision making and funded diversion services.
She revealed “grave concerns” for the mental wellbeing of children inside Territory Detention centres, which were backed by Danila Dilba, NTCOSS and AMSANT, who together held Territory Families accountable to the royal commission recommendations from 2017.
Her role advocating for the Rights of the Child has led to the NT being the first jurisdiction to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12.
5. Garma Festival
After a two year hiatus, Garma Festival returned to northeast Arnhem Land for a historical four-day event in 2022.
The newly appointed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used his keynote address to launch the national referendum on a constitutionally recognised Voice to Parliament.
The event bounced back from Covid with agenda-setting reforms and speakers, including 2022 NT Australian of the Year Leanne Liddle, who delivered a powerful address on racism and the justice system.
It was the meeting place of balanda and First Nation’s advocates like Thomas Mayo who has been tirelessly promoting the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
The force behind Garma’s $30m success was Yothu Yindi Foundation chief executive Denise Bowden, who again has been fearless in her commitment to Indigenous education and cultural tourism.
4. Judy Dent
In 1996, Dent’s husband Bob was the first person in the world to use voluntary assisted dying, right here in the Territory.
However, less than a year later voluntary euthanasia legislation was revoked by federal laws. Dent launched almost a quarter-of-century long campaign to have those rights’ restored.
In November last year that “first battle” was won when the federal senate restored the Territory’s ability legislate on the issue.
Dent has now vowed to lobby the Territory government until they fully restore those rights to Territorians; a battle that is contingent on a Labor conscious vote.
3. Dr Samuel Bush-Blanasi
Voted the Northern Territory’s Australian of the Year, Bush-Blanasi was re-elected as Northern Land Council’s chairman for a historic fourth term.
The Wugularr (Beswick) man has continued to advance Aboriginal land rights through significant advocacy for tidal rights in the Northern Territory.
Controversial amendments to the Fisheries Legislation Bill in 2022 were a significant win for Traditional Owners that recognised First Nation’s peoples relationship to sea country and restricted access to waterways for fishos through a permit system.
After his mum was a claimant in the 2008 High Court Blue Mud Bay judgment that delivered 85 per cent of the Territory’s intertidal zones to Traditional Owners, it is clear he has continued her legacy.
He was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Charles Darwin University in 2022 for his ongoing fight for first nations’ people equality.
2. Samara Fernandez-Brown
Fernandez-Brown is a proud Warlpiri woman and fierce advocate for her community in Yuendumu.
Fernandez-Brown gave powerful evidence at an inquest in Alice Springs in 2022 into the death of her cousin, Kumanjayi Walker, and was a daily presence inside and outside of court.
In a year when the Warlpiri community has again been thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, Fernandez-Brown has remained a staunch defender of the dignity and humanity of her Central Australian mob amid commentary from outsiders as her family continues to grieve their tragic loss.
1. Dr Kirsty Howey
The Northern Territory’s natural landscape is considered a national treasure and intrinsic to Territorians’ way of life.
In the wake of threats to land and water, the Environment Centre chief executive has been at the centre of protests and law suits that regularly cause Territory Labor and mining companies headaches.
Howey’s team work has impacted progress on a number of the government’s major projects, including the Middle Arm development, Mcarthur River Mine expansion and Beetaloo Basin. She is also a passionate advocate for the Territory’s smallest residents, the Gouldian finch, and has worked to halt defence housing development in Lee Point.
As the 2024 Territory elections loom, Howey is one to watch.
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