Senator Lidia Thorpe says the federal government should have done more to block the appointment of David Connolly as Northern Territory Administrator, after he was sworn in on Friday amid protests outside Parliament House in Darwin.
Mr Connolly, the former president of the Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association, was nominated in December by Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro and became the Territory's 24th Administrator.
The role — equivalent to a state governor — is intended to be politically neutral and carries a salary of $377,000.
His appointment has sparked criticism over past social media posts that included criticism of Welcome to Country ceremonies, mockery of Indigenous languages, disparaging remarks about women and the Prime Minister, and jokes about domestic violence.
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During Friday's protest, Larrakia Traditional Owner Eric Fejo was led away by police as up to 100 demonstrators chanted "not my administrator" while Mr Connolly arrived. NT Police told National Indigenous Times the 61-year-old was later charged with trespassing and resisting arrest, with a court date yet to be decided.
Senator Thorpe called for a public apology to Mr Fejo, saying he was "manhandled" on "his own Country".
"Eric is a staunch defender of his Country and his people. It is utterly shameful that police would treat an Elder this way on Larrakia land," she said.
"NT Police must publicly apologise."
Attendees at the protest included federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, Marion Scrymgour, Member for Mulka Yingiya Guyula, and NT Labor leader and deputy leader Selena Uibo and Dheran Young.
Mr Young said Mr Fejo's arrest was "completely unnecessary and deeply concerning". In comments to National Indigenous Times, he argued, "Peaceful protest is a fundamental democratic right. Mr Fejo was exercising that right on his traditional lands. There was no justification for such a heavy-handed response."
"Lia Finocchiaro and the CLP government should be ashamed for supporting laws and actions that silence Territorians and undermine the right to peaceful protest. Gagging co
Mr Connolly issued a last-minute apology on Wednesday evening, more than a month after the controversy emerged. At his swearing-in ceremony on Friday, in comments reported by ABC News, he said: "Judge me not by the first headlines, but by the months and years of service to the NT and it's people that I have committed to".
"Above all I bring respect — respect for First Nations people and their enduring custodianship of this land for tens of thousands of years, respect for the law and our institutions that hold us together, respect for those who agree with me and those who do not."
Senator Thorpe said the presence of several Labor MPs at the protest rang hollow, arguing the federal government had refused to use its powers to block the appointment. This week, an open letter was sent to the Prime Minister calling on him to "immediately rescind" Mr Connolly's appointment to restore public confidence.
The signatories encouraged the PM to "urgently review the advice and process that led to this appointment" and make public the "standards applied in assessing suitability for this constitutional role".
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Last month, Anthony Albanese ruled out intervening, saying responsibility rests with the Territory government.
"The federal cabinet is just a process of agreeing to the recommendation of the Northern Territory Government; there is no precedent whatsoever for the Commonwealth intervening in such a way," he said.
In response, Senator Thorpe said: "That power exists. But the Albanese government refuse to use it."
"When they won't act, they are part of the problem. Their inaction sends a clear message that they still endorse this man, no matter what the Minister may say at a microphone."
She added: "To the minister I say: now that you've found your activist voice, I'll see you at the next deaths in custody rally."
Speaking on Friday, Senator McCarthy said calls for federal intervention overlooked that the appointment was made by the NT Government, who bore responsibility for the decision.
"Let me tell you, an intervention is not what this Northern Territory needs. We've seen enough of these interventions," she said.
She also criticised Ms Finocchiaro for refusing to invite MPs on Friday who had previously attended Administrator swearing-in ceremonies.
"The very puerile, childish behaviour of the Chief Minister and the protocol team, to have not included any of those on the protocol list, is also an indictment on this decision that's been made in the Northern Territory," she said.
"We all can agree and disagree, and we can all have an opportunity to speak about what our beliefs are. But we also must be firm about true governance for the people of the Northern Territory."
In a statement, Ms Finocchiaro said Mr Connolly had spent nearly twenty years in the Territory, "building strong relationships across regional and remote communities".
She also criticised the backlash, saying it had been weaponised by political opponents.
"He is the Administrator now and people should have some respect," Ms Finocchiaro told Mix 104.9 on Monday. "People can make mistakes, people can have personal views."
