Marion Scrymgour makes history as first Aboriginal person to chair the House of Representatives
Tiwi and Anmatjere woman Marion Scrymgour MP has made history as the first Aboriginal person to chair the House of Representatives Chamber, as a member of the Speaker’s Panel.
The Member for Lingiari, Scrymgour was appointed to the Speaker’s Panel in the 47th Parliament and has been chairing the Federation Chamber for over a year.
The Speaker’s Panel supports the Speaker of the House of Representatives by chairing debates and maintaining order during parliamentary proceedings.
Images: Marion Scrymgour MP, Member for Lingiari, takes the Chair for the first time. Courtesy of AUSPIC.
Before entering the Australian Parliament, Scrymgour was formerly a Deputy Speaker and a former Deputy Chief Minister in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly.
She is also the first woman to be the chief executive of the NT’s Northern Land Council and has had a long career in the Aboriginal community controlled health sector.
Following the re-election of the Albanese Labor Government in May, Scrymgour was appointed as the Special Envoy for Remote Communities.
Images: Marion Scrymgour MP, Member for Lingiari, takes the Chair for the first time. Courtesy of AUSPIC.
Speaking to the significance of her new role as Deputy Speaker, Scrymgour posted to social media, saying that it was “a huge moment for the Parliament, but more importantly, it was a message to young Aboriginal people back home in the NT”.
“Aboriginal people deserve to be in every chair, at every table,” said Scrymgour.
“I grew up one of 11 siblings from a working class family in Darwin. My father was a stolen generations man who was forcibly removed from his family by the Parliament I sit in today.”
“Change happens, it can be slow and it can be painful, but Aboriginal people are strong, we deserve to take our place in this country.”
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Senator Malarndirri McCarthy (@malarndirri)
Minister for Indigenous Australians for Senator Malarndirri McCarthy congratulated Scrymgour for adding to “her impressive record”.
“Marion Scrymgour MP has a long history of firsts,” said McCarthy.
The usual Speaker, Milton Dick MP also congratulated Scrymgour and described it as “an incredible honour for the Australian Parliament”.
The post Marion Scrymgour makes history as first Aboriginal person to chair the House of Representatives appeared first on Women's Agenda.
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