Jack Ah Kit

John Leonard Ah Kit (22 July 1950 – 12 July 2020) was an Australian politician. He was the Labor member for Arnhem in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly from 1995 to 2005.

Jack Ah Kit
Ah Kit in 2004
Member of the Parliament of the Northern Territory for Arnhem
In office
7 October 1995 – 16 June 2005
Preceded byWes Lanhupuy
Succeeded byMalarndirri McCarthy
Personal details
Born
John Leonard Ah Kit

(1950-07-22)22 July 1950
Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia
Died12 July 2020(2020-07-12) (aged 69)
Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
Political partyLabor Party
Domestic partnerGail Canendo
ChildrenNgaree Ah Kit, Jonathan Ah Kit

Early life

Ah Kit was born on 22 July 1950 in Alice Springs, the fifth child in a Jawoyn family of 13. He moved with his family to Darwin in 1954.[1] He attended Darwin and Parap primary schools and Darwin High School.[2]

Biography

In 1983, he was elected to the Full Council of the Northern Land Council (NLC) representing Aboriginal people in the Katherine region. In 1984 he was appointed Director of the Northern Land Council from 1984 to 1990. He resigned in 1990 to contest the seat of Goyder for the Labor Party.[2] He played an important role in 1991 in Jawoyn efforts to stop the mining of gold, palladium and platinum at Coronation Hill in 1991, Ah Kit was instrumental in the Jawoyn traditional owners’ battle to prevent gold, palladium and platinum mining at Coronation Hill, the resting site of Jawoyn creator being Bula.[3]

Ah Kit was Executive Director of the Jawoyn Association from 1991 to 1995 before his election to parliament in a by-election following the resignation of Wes Lanhupuy. He served as a minister in the first term of the Martin Government, a historical milestone as he was the first indigenous minister in the Territory's history. When elected to parliament, John Ah Kit became the ninth Indigenous parliamentarian in Australian history.[1]

Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
Years Term Electoral division Party
1995–1997 7th Stuart Labor
1997–2001 8th Stuart Labor
2001–2005 9th Stuart Labor

While in parliament he held a number of portfolios:

  • Minister for Community Development
  • Minister for Housing
  • Minister for Local Government
  • Minister for Sport and Recreation
  • Minister for Regional Development
  • Minister assisting the Chief Minister on Indigenous Affairs[1]

Ah Kit retired in 2005 citing ill health.[4] His daughter Ngaree Ah Kit was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 2016. Ah Kit died at Royal Darwin Hospital on the evening of 12 July 2020, aged 69.[5][6]

Awards
  • 2007 National NAIDOC Awards – Lifetime Achievement Award – John (Jak) Ah Kit
  • Doctor of Letters Honoris Causa awarded by the Council of Charles Darwin University[2]

References
  1. "Biographic details: John Ah Kit, MLA for Arnhem" (PDF). Territory Stories. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  2. "Honorary Awards John Ah Kit" (PDF). Charles Darwin University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  3. Allam, Lorena (13 July 2020). "John Ah Kit: leader and tireless advocate for Aboriginal rights dies aged 69". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  4. Green, Antony (2008). "Retiring MPs". 2008 Northern Territory Election. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  5. "Trailblazing NT Aboriginal cabinet minister John Ah Kit dies, aged 69". abc.net.au. 12 July 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  6. "Former NT Labor Cabinet minister John Ah Kit dies". The NT News. 12 July 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
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