Selena Uibo becomes first Indigenous woman to lead major Australian political party

Dechlan Brennan Published September 3, 2024 at 2.30pm (AWST)

selena uibo

Selena Uibo is set to become the first Indigenous female leader of a major political party. (Image: (A)manda Parkinson/AAP)

Selena Uibo will become the first female Indigenous leader of a major party in Australia's history after she was announced as the leader of Northern Territory Labor, replacing the outgoing Chief Minister Eva Lawler, who lost her seat in the party's election wipeout last month.

The MP for Arnhem, Ms Uibo's mother is a Nunggubuyu woman from Numbulwar and Wanindilyakwa from Groote Eylandt, whilst her father is a second-generation Australian of Estonian and South African origin, born in Sydney.

She speaks English, Kriol and some of the Wubuy language of Numbulwar.

At a press conference, the former schoolteacher said she was "proud and privileged" to lead a "strong, robust and accountable opposition".

"I love the Northern Territory, I work hard every day for my electorate," she said, as reported by the ABC.

"I've been honoured to have two terms as the member for Arnhem and now a third term.

"I can reassure Territorians that we'll be working very hard in opposition, as the Labor opposition, to ensure that the new CLP government is held to account and that they deliver for Territorians as they've promised."

Ms Uibo will lead a party with only four seats - the majority from the bush - after the election defeat.

All the MP's who retained their seats - Ms Uibo, Chansey Paech, Dheran Young, and Manuel Brown - are Indigenous.

Ms Uibo was elected to parliament in 2016 after being elevated to cabinet in 2018.

She has held a number of portfolios, including Remote Housing and Homelands, Corporate and Digital Development, Health, Local Decision Making, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Parks and Rangers, and Public Employment.

The ABC reported Mr Young, a former advisor to Ms Uibo, had been named the deputy opposition leader.

They were both voted in unanimously by the caucus, which has resulted in Arrente, Arabana and Gurindji man Mr Paech, the former attorney-general and deputy leader, being demoted from the leadership team.

It is understood the optics of having someone in the leadership team that oversaw the monumental election defeat 10 days ago didn't go in Mr Paech's favour when electing a new leader.

More to come.