First Nations fail: Greens erase Indigenous MPs. Twice

NSW Greens candidate Lynda-June Coe stated “there’s never been a First Nations woman in the NSW Parliament”. She was wrong. Both times.

The NSW Greens Party has been forced to apologise — twice — after one of their candidates erased two Indigenous women from the history of NSW parliament.

A fundraising email sent by Greens Upper House candidate Lynda-June Coe on Tuesday incorrectly stated that “there’s never been a First Nations woman in the NSW Parliament”.

“We can change that,” it said, asking for $25 donations.

The email failed to acknowledge Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney, who served in NSW parliament as the member for Canterbury for 13 years before entering federal politics.

After the party was alerted to the mistake on Twitter, the NSW Greens apologised.

A NSW Greens candidate forgot that Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney was in NSW parliament for 13 years. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

“This email was incorrect and a correction and apology has been emailed this afternoon,” it said.

“The email intended to note only that Lynda-June would be the first First Nations person in the Upper House of NSW parliament,” the party tweeted.

NSW Greens Upper House candidate Lynda-June Coe. Picture: Facebook

But that isn’t true either. Auburn MP Lynda Voltz – whose grandfather was Indigenous and grew up on the St Clair Aboriginal Mission in Singleton – was first elected to NSW parliament in the Upper House in 2007, serving for 11 years before moving to the Legislative Assembly.

The Greens were forced to acknowledge and apologise for their second mistake in an email to supporters.

“Greens NSW unreservedly apologise to Ms Burney and Ms Voltz and acknowledge the work they have done for the people of NSW during their time in NSW parliament,” Greens NSW State Election Campaign co-ordinator Andrew Blake said in the email.

The party also apologised no less than six times on Twitter.

Auburn MP Lynda Voltz, who has Indigenous heritage, was elected to the Upper House from 2007 Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Ms Voltz said she was disappointed that the Greens had forgotten about Ms Burney’s work in NSW politics.

“She’s been one of our most significant Aboriginal leaders in politics for over two decades and is one of our most important Aboriginal leaders in the country,” Ms Voltz said.

Labor’s Upper House leader Penny Sharpe said the mistake “never should have happened”.

“I am disappointed and angry that in the name of fundraising, the Greens political party has erased the significant contribution of Linda Burney.

“Doing politics by ignoring the contribution of people like Linda Burney, diminishes her hard work, commitment & contribution not just for Aboriginal people but for everyone in NSW. It should never have happened,” she said.

Mr Blake directed The Daily Telegraph to tweets apologising for the error.

Originally published as First Nations fail: Greens erase Indigenous MPs. Twice