Indigenous minister Linda Burney announces retirement

Linda Burney reflects on her career of ‘firsts’ including being the first Aboriginal person to be elected to the NSW parliament.

Transcript

00:00I was the first Indigenous person elected to the New South Wales Parliament,

00:06the first Indigenous woman in the House of Representatives,

00:11the first Indigenous woman to be appointed by this wonderful man here to Cabinet.

00:20But I won't be the last. To me, that is progress. And it's time to hand the baton on.

00:29It's been one heck of a journey. And I've loved every minute of it.

00:35I have been through more than my fair share of life's ups and downs.

00:46But I think I've done it with kindness, grace, resilience, intelligence and integrity.

00:54Of course, the voice referendum, as the Prime Minister said,

01:01didn't deliver the outcome we had hoped. But I think history will treat it kindly.

01:09But I know in my heart, I gave it all that I could

01:14to close the gap and to advance reconciliation.