Selena Uibo

Summary

Selena Jane Malijarri Uibo (born 25 March 1985) is an Aboriginal Australian politician. She is a Labor member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly since 2016, representing the electorate of Arnhem.

Selena Uibo
Member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
for Arnhem
Assumed office
27 August 2016
Preceded byLarisa Lee
Personal details
Born (1985-03-25) 25 March 1985 (age 39)
Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
Political partyLabor Party
OccupationTeacher

Early life and career edit

Uibo was born in the Northern Territory. Her mother is a Nunggubuyu woman from Numbulwar and Wanindilyakwa from Groote Eylandt, both located in south-east Arnhem Land. Her father was born in Sydney. She went to school in Batchelor and Darwin and participated in many youth programs including the Aboriginal Islander Tertiary Aspirations Program, YMCA Youth Parliament and the National Youth Round Table.

Uibo graduated valedictorian from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education (Secondary) in 2010. She began her teaching career at the Casuarina Senior College before moving to Numbulwar in 2012, where she was acting senior teacher.

In 2013 she won a Commonwealth Bank Foundation award for teaching financial literacy to her secondary students. Uibo also won the NT Award for Excellence in Teaching or Leadership in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education in both the Arnhem region and the Northern Territory.[1]

Politics edit

Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
Years Term Electoral division Party
2016–2020 13th Arnhem Labor
2020–present 14th Arnhem Labor

Uibo was elected into the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly in 2016 in the electoral division of Arnhem, previously held by Larisa Lee. She won the seat on 64 percent of the two-party vote, reverting Arnhem to its traditional status as a safe Labor seat. Lee, who served under three different banners during her tenure (Country Liberal, independent, Palmer United and independent again), won only 117 votes. Meanwhile, Uibo won 54 percent of the primary vote, enough to reclaim the seat for Labor without the need for preferences.[2]

In a reshuffle of the Gunner Ministry on 26 June 2018, Uibo was promoted to the Cabinet of the Northern Territory as Minister for Education and Minister for Training.[3]

On 31 January 2019, Uibo was additionally sworn in as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.[4]

The fourth Gunner ministry was announced on 7 September 2020, following the 2020 Northern Territory general election.[5] Uibo continued as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and was appointed Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Minister for Treaty and Local Decision Making, and Minister for Parks and Rangers.[6]

Political views edit

Uibo supports a woman's right to have an abortion.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ "Selena Uibo - Arnhem". Territory Labor. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Electorate: Arnhem". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. 28 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Michael Gunner passes on police, Aboriginal affairs in NT Government Cabinet reshuffle". ABC News. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  4. ^ "Administrative Arrangements Order: Ministers and ministerial offices (p33)". legislation.nt.gov.au. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Michael Gunner takes on job of Treasurer as new NT cabinet revealed". www.abc.net.au. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Administrative Arrangements Order (No. 3) 2020: Ministers and ministerial offices (p36)". legislation.nt.gov.au. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Abortion decriminalised in Northern Territory after long campaign | Abortion | the Guardian".
Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member for Arnhem
2016–present
Incumbent