Linda Burney

Linda Jean Burney (born 25 April 1957) is an Australian politician, a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the member of Parliament (MP) for the division of Barton since 2016. She was the minister for Indigenous Australians from 2022 to July 2024. She was formerly a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the district of Canterbury from 2003 to 2016 and previously a teacher. Burney is the first known woman to identify as Aboriginal to be elected to the Australian House of Representatives.

Burney was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Canterbury for Labor from 2003 to 2016. During this election time she was the New South Wales Deputy Leader of the Opposition and was also Shadow Minister for Education and Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. In the Keneally ministry, she was the Minister for the State Plan and Minister for Community Services. During 2008 and 2009, Burney served as the National President of the Labor Party.

Burney was the first known person to identify as Aboriginal to serve in the New South Wales Parliament upon her election in 2003. She later became the first known woman to identify as Aboriginal in the Australian House of Representatives upon her entry into federal politics at the 2016 election. After the election of Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Party at the 2022 federal election, Burney was appointed minister for Indigenous Australians in the new government.

On 25 July 2024, Burney announced her retirement from federal Parliament at the next election and, on 28 July 2024, was replaced as a minister in cabinet reshuffle. Provided by Wikipedia