Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy

Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy

Senator for NT

Positions
Minister for Indigenous Australians
Party
Australian Labor Party
Chamber
Senate

Seating Plan

Seating map

Electorate Office

(Principal Office)

38 Mitchell Street
Darwin, NT, 0800

Postal address

PO Box 1596
Darwin, NT, 0801

Telephone:
(08) 8941 0003
Fax:
(08) 8941 0071

Parliament Office

PO Box 6100
Senate
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Telephone:
(02) 6277 7780

Biography

Parliamentary service
  • Territory: Elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly for Arnhem in 2005. Re-elected in 2008. Defeated at general elections in 2012.
  • Federal: Elected to the Senate for the Northern Territory 2016. Re-elected 2019 and 2022.
Parliamentary positions
  • Temporary Chair of Committees from 18.10.2017 to 22.7.2019.
Ministerial appointments
  • Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health from 1.6.2022 to 29.7.2024.
  • Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians from 1.6.2022 to 29.7.2024.
  • Minister for Indigenous Australians from 29.7.2024.
  • Cabinet Minister from 29.7.2024.
Committee service
  • Joint Select: Constitutional Recognition Relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (2018) served from 26.3.2018 to 29.11.2018
  • Joint Standing: National Disability Insurance Scheme served from 12.9.2016 to 11.10.2016; National Capital and External Territories served from 12.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Northern Australia served from 12.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 20.3.2017 to 9.5.2017; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 14.8.2017 to 11.4.2022; National Capital and External Territories served from 28.7.2022 to 14.8.2024
  • Joint Statutory: Law Enforcement served from 15.9.2016 to 1.12.2016
  • Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 30.8.2016 to 14.12.2017; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 2.7.2019 to 16.3.2021; Community Affairs: References served from 2.7.2019 to 16.3.2021; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 16.3.2021 to 1.6.2022; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 16.3.2021 to 1.6.2022; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 24.6.2021 to 1.6.2022
  • Senate Select: Stillbirth Research and Education served from 28.3.2018 to 5.4.2018; Stillbirth Research and Education served as Chair from 6.4.2018 to 4.12.2018; Effectiveness of the Australian Government's Northern Australia Agenda served from 22.7.2019 to 28.4.2021; Aboriginal Flag served from 3.9.2020 to 3.9.2020; Aboriginal Flag served as Chair from 4.9.2020 to 13.10.2020
Parliamentary party positions
  • Australian Labor Party. Served: 02.07.2016 to present
  • Opposition Deputy Whip in the Senate from 2.7.2019 to 11.4.2022.
Personal
  • Born: 1970, Katherine, Australia
  • Gender: Female
  • Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander: Yes
Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament
  • Journalist for ABC News and Current Affairs from 1989 to 2005.
  • Presenter for SBS/NITV News from 2012 to 2016.
  • Freelance journalist for Malarndirri Media, 2016.
State/Territory Government service
  • Elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly for Arnhem in 2005. Re-elected in 2008. Defeated at general elections in 2012.
  • Minister Assisting the Chief Minister on Multicultural Affairs from 18.8.2008 to 8.2.2009.
  • Minister for Children and Families from 18.8.2008 to 3.12.2009.
  • Minister for Child Protection from 18.8.2008 to 3.12.2009.
  • Minister for Statehood from 18.8.2008 to 28.8.2012.
  • Minister for Senior Territorians and Young Territorians from 18.8.2008 to 5.8.2009.
  • Minister for Women's Policy from 18.8.2008 to 28.8.2012.
  • Minister Assisting the Chief Minister on Education from 9.2.2009 to 5.8.2009.
  • Minister for Indigenous Policy from 6.8.2009 to 3.12.2009.
  • Minister for Local Government from 4.12.2009 to 28.8.2012.
  • Minister for Regional Development from 4.12.2009 to 28.8.2012.
  • Minister for Indigenous Development from 4.12.2009 to 28.8.2012.
  • Minister for Tourism from 4.12.2009 to 28.8.2012.
Honours
  • Received the Inaugural Deadly Award for Journalism, 2013.
  • Received a Walkleys nomination, 2013.
  • Received a Walkleys nomination, 2014.
  • Awarded Journalist of the Year at the Multicultural and Indigenous Media Awards (MIMA), 2014.
  • Received a Logies nomination, 2015.

We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledge their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain images and voices of deceased people.