Sisters on the move

This leads me back to my first question: where are our strong black and deadly male leaders? Six years ago the indigenous elected leadership was heavily weighed in favour of men at a ratio of 3:0: Aden Ridgeway, Senator for New South Wales, Ernie Bridge, WA Member, and John Ah Kit, NT Member.

Fast track to the present, July 2005, and our indigenous elected representation is decidedly female in composition with a ratio of 5:2: Carol Martin, WA Member, Linda Burnie, NSW Member, Marion Scrymgour, Barbara McCarthy and Alison Anderson, NT Members. Through the resignations of Bridge and Ah Kit and the recent defeat of Senator Ridgeway, the male team has only two elected members in Mathew Bonson and Elliott McAdam.

With high profile, capable indigenous women at the top of their profession, there is solicitor Terri Jankie, barrister Tammy Williams, academic professor Larissa Behrendt, magistrate Jacquie Payne, film producer Rachel Perkins, TV documentary producer Julie Nimmo, radio presenter Lola Forester, actresses Debra Mailman and Leah Purcell, singers Casey Donovan and Shakaya, businesswoman Shelly Reys, events co-ordinator Rhoda Roberts, representative touch footballer Bo De La Cruz, Olympian Stacey Porter, medical practitioner Dr Sandra Eades, and authors Jackie Huggins and Dr Anita Heiss, to name a few, it would appear the future of indigenous people is in safe hands, albeit softer.

Indigenous women are on the move and you’d better believe it.