Biography

Malarndirri McCarthy is a Yanyuwa woman from Borroloola in the Northern Territory and was first elected to the Northern Territory Parliament as the Labor Member for ARNHEM on 18^th June 2005.  She was re-elected unopposed on 9^th August 2008.

 

The seat of ARNHEM covers an area of 99,269 square kilometres of Arnhem Land, Bickerton Island and Groote Eylandt in the Top End of the Northern Territory, with a population of approximately 8,000 people spread across 8 towns, 3 smaller communities and more than 60 Homeland communities, many being isolated during the wet season.

The ARNHEM boundary begins north of her traditional country of the Sir Edward Pellew Islands and coastal region of Borroloola on the Gulf of Carpentaria.

 

Malarndirri was born in Katherine and grew up in Borroloola and Alice Springs, before going to Sydney to further her education at St Scholasitca's College in Glebe, where she was elected School Captain in 1988.

 

In 1989 Malarndirri joined the ABC under the Aboriginal Journalist Cadet program and worked in news and current affairs for 16 years in Sydney, Canberra, Darwin and Alice Springs.  Malarndirri worked on the award winning documentaries – ‘Stolen Children’ and ‘A Dying Shame’.

 

Malarndirri also co-established the Borroloola Radio Station 102.9 FM ‘The Voice of the Gulf’, the Lijakarda Arts Culture and Media Training Centre and two cultural festivals.

 

Over the years Malarndirri has participated on the Australia Arts Council’s Community Development Fund, contributed on behalf of Indigenous women on the Federal Government’s Office of Women committees, was Patron for SIDS & Kids NT for 12 years and is a member of EMILY’S LIST and Women's Network NT.

 

Malarndirri was appointed Minister in the NT Government in August 2008, and currently holds the portfolios of Local Government; Regional Development; Indigenous Development; Tourism; Women’s Policy; and Statehood.

 

She is one of 5 Indigenous Members and one of 8 women politicians in the 25 member Chamber of the Northern Territory Parliament.

 

Malarndirri has two sons, CJ and Grayson.