Linda Burney, Minister for Indigenous Australians, announced her retirement from politics last week, and Labor has quickly appointed Northern Territory Senator Malarndirri McCarthy to take over the portfolio.
McCarthy comes into the position at a difficult time. Burney was a strong advocate for Indigenous rights, but her tenure as minister finished on a sour note.
The defeat of the Voice to Parliament proposal at last year’s referendum has increased disillusionment in Indigenous communities about the role of the federal government on key Indigenous issues. Since the referendum, Indigenous affairs have been largely absent from national politics.
