Marion Scrymgour favourite for ALP’s Lingiari preselection

A woman who became the nation’s highest-ranked Indigenous female politician is set to run for Labor at the federal election.

The highest-ranked Indigenous woman in Australian government history is favourite to be preselected for a safe Northern Territory seat.

Former Territory deputy chief minister Marion Scrymgour will become Labor’s candidate for Lingiari, according to Sky News.

Ms Scrymgour would replace outgoing MP Warren Snowdon, who announced in December he would not contest the next election after nearly two decades in parliament.

Ms Scrymgour became Australia’s first Indigenous female cabinet member in 2003 before being promoted to deputy chief minister in 2007.

Mr Snowdon held the seat by nearly 11 per cent at the 2019 election, and Sky reports he backed Ms Scrymgour for preselection.

She briefly quit the party in June 2009, consigning Labor to minority government, after objecting to the state government’s Indigenous policy but rejoined just a month later.

She was appointed CEO of the Northern Land Council in 2019, becoming the council’s fourth leader in just five months.

Originally published as Marion Scrymgour favourite for ALP’s Lingiari preselection