Prominent federal Northern Territory politicians have criticised the incoming Territory Administrator over past social media posts, describing them as "reprehensible" and calling on him to apologise.
Former Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association president David Connolly is due to be sworn in next month as the Territory's 24th Administrator, after being nominated by Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro last month. The role — equivalent to that of a state governor — is intended to be politically neutral.
However, in recent days, a number of Mr Connolly's past posts on X (formerly Twitter) have resurfaced, including derogatory remarks about First Nations people, female athletes and the Prime Minister.
On Tuesday, three NT Labor politicians — Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy and MPs Marion Scrymgour and Luke Gosling — issued a joint statement condemning the posts as "reprehensible and offensive".
"He should apologise," the three said.
"The NT Administrator plays an important role in the functioning of our democracy.
"More than that, they should stand as a unifying figure above party politics and represent all Territorians."
They added: "The choice of Administrator has always been a matter for the NT Government."
In a 2024 post about Elders charging for Welcome to Country ceremonies, Mr Connolly wrote: "Hmmm welcome to my house; that'll be $3,000 thanks".
In a separate post from 2020, he claimed Indigenous people were fast-tracked through the medical system, saying the "non-Indigenous have to wait on the system, the Indigenous are fast-tracked, and paid for".
"Interestingly, kids from the station school have to self-fund their sport, the Indigenous kids do not have to. The boarding school kids have to fund their travel to and from school, the Indigenous kids do not. The taxpayer pays for it," he said.
"So, I see bias up here in the NT directed at what benefits certain people get, and what others don't get. I see anger at the concessions and unfairness more than any racism."
On Monday, the ABC reported Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan described many of Mr Connolly's posts as racist and said the relationship between Mr Connolly and the land council was broken. He urged Governor-General Sam Mostyn to rescind her approval of the appointment.
"As an Indigenous person, it's hurtful, and we want an administrator who is neutral, who is willing to work with Indigenous people right across the territory," he said.
"No one should be appointed if racist remarks are made, targeted at the Indigenous people right across the territory, or anyone for that matter, right across Australia."
Mr Ryan added that if Mr Connolly were appointed, "I'm not going to talk to him".
NT Labor leader Selena Uibo has also called on Ms Finocchiaro to consider withdrawing Mr Connolly's nomination.
"We would like to see the chief minister reconsider this appointment, as the Labor opposition, based on the concerns that have been raised with us directly by Territorians and community members," she said, as reported by the ABC.
"We want to see an appointment that really, truly reflects the values of Territorians and that is inclusive, it recognises and celebrates our diversity and can really uphold the status of the appointment."
Ms Finocchiaro has defended the nomination, noting that both the Northern Territory and federal governments approved the decision on Friday, while also saying she had not seen Mr Connolly's past online activity.
In a statement on Monday, Mr Connolly said it was never his intention to cause offence, stating: "I fully understand and appreciate the expectations of the community and my role as Administrator."
"I have always been a fierce advocate for the bush and will now be a fierce advocate for all Territorians. My former social media posts are exactly that and were done at a time when having the honour and privilege of being the Administrator was not even in my wildest dreams," he said.
"I love this place and look forward to getting out and working for everyone right across the Territory."
