Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ruled out blocking the appointment of the Northern Territory's incoming administrator, despite the resurfacing of past social media posts described by Indigenous leaders as racist.
Former Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association president David Connolly is due to be sworn in next month as the Territory's 24th administrator, following his nomination by Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro last month.
The position, which carries an annual salary of $376,000 and is equivalent to a state governor, is intended to be politically neutral.
However, several of Mr Connolly's historical posts on X (formerly Twitter) have re-emerged, including derogatory remarks about First Nations people, who comprise around one-third of the Northern Territory's population.
He has also been a vocal critic of the Prime Minister, reposting far-right accounts that labelled Mr Albanese an "a**hole".
The posts have been condemned by Indigenous organisations, including the Northern Land Council (NLC) and Aboriginal Peak Organisations NT (APONT), both of which have called on the Northern Territory Government to rescind Mr Connolly's appointment.
Speaking in Darwin on Tuesday, ahead of his trip to East Timor, the Prime Minister said the personal comments directed at him did not concern him, but questioned whether Mr Connolly was suited to the role.
"I am worried about whether this person is able to properly represent the Northern Territory in a way which is appropriate," Mr Albanese said.
"And my colleagues have made statements as Northern Territory representatives [about his appointment]."
Last week, federal Labor's three Northern Territory representatives — Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy and MPs Marion Scrymgour and Luke Gosling — issued a joint statement condemning the posts as "reprehensible and offensive" and calling on Mr Connolly to apologise.
"The NT Administrator plays an important role in the functioning of our democracy," they said. "More than that, they should stand as a unifying figure above party politics and represent all Territorians."
The MPs stopped short of calling on Ms Finocchiaro to withdraw the nomination, stating: "The choice of Administrator has always been a matter for the NT Government."
Mr Albanese said it was not up to him or federal cabinet to block the appointment, arguing the responsibility lay with the Northern Territory Government to justify its decision.
"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.
"As someone who supports the sovereignty of governments, including the Northern Territory government, to make decisions about its future, it's up to them to defend this decision. It's not a decision that I would have made."
Ms Finocchiaro has previously defended Mr Connolly's appointment and has declined to comment on his past social media activity.
"This appointment has been approved by the NT government, the Australian government, and the Governor-General," she said.
"The swearing-in is scheduled for 27 February, 2026."
Speaking to ABC Radio last week, NLC chair Matthew Ryan said he was "disgusted and very disappointed" by the appointment.
"We need someone that doesn't have any baggage," Mr Ryan said. "We need someone that will represent the Northern Territory — not just one-sided, but all Territory Indigenous [people] also."
APONT chair Theresa Roe also criticised the appointment, arguing that Mr Connolly's social media activity — including claims that Aboriginal people receive preferential medical treatment and are responsible for crime spikes in the Northern Territory — reinforced harmful narratives.
"This office carries significant standing and public trust in the position is a basic requirement," Ms Roe said last week. "Such views have no place in the office of the NT Administrator. This behaviour only creates division in the Territory."
Mr Connolly has not apologised for the posts, instead saying he did not intend to cause harm and would 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 in a statement earlier this month.
"I love this place and look forward to getting out and working for everyone right across the Territory."
