Ngaree Ah Kit

Ngaree Jane Ah Kit (born 4 June 1981; pronounced [ŋaːrɪː]) is an Australian politician, who was elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly at the 2016 general election, representing the electoral division of Karama, Darwin, for the Labor Party.

The Honourable
Ngaree Ah Kit
MLA
Minister for Corporate and Digital Development, International Education, Disabilities and Multicultural Affairs
Assumed office
23 May 2022
13th Speaker of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
In office
20 August 2020 – 23 May 2022
DeputyMark Turner (2020–21)
Joel Bowden (2021–2022)
Preceded byChansey Paech
Succeeded byMark Monaghan
Member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
for Karama
Assumed office
27 August 2016
Preceded byDelia Lawrie
Personal details
Born
Ngaree Jane Ah Kit

(1981-06-04) 4 June 1981
Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia
Political partyLabor
Parent
OccupationPublic servant

Early life and background

Ah Kit was born in Katherine, Northern Territory, and was raised in both Katherine and Darwin.[1] She is of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Chinese descent, and is the daughter of Jack Ah Kit, the former Labor member for Arnhem, who was the first indigenous minister in the Northern Territory from 1995 to 2005.[2] Following her brother's death in 2007, Ah Kit became a suicide prevention advocate, forming a survivors' group in 2007 and the Darwin Region Indigenous Suicide Prevention Network in 2010, and working for the Northern Territory Department of Health.

She was a territory finalist for the Young Australian of the Year awards in 2009 for her work organising NAIDOC Week in the Top End,[3] and a finalist for Australia's Local Hero in 2016 for her suicide prevention work.[4]

Ah Kit well known in the Northern Territory as a fierce and passionate advocate for First Nations community members, Disability and Multicultural Affairs has placed her well for her portfolios. Ah Kit has also been involved in a number of community-controlled organisations serving as board director and spokesperson.

Political

Ah Kit was sworn in as minister under the Fyles ministry in May 2022 following the resignation of then Chief Minister Michael Gunner.

Ah Kit holds the portfolios of Minister for Corporate and Digital Development; Minister for Disabilities; Minister for International Education; Minister for Multicultural Affairs.

She was previously the 13th Speaker of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly making her the first Aboriginal women to be speaker of an Australian parliament after being elected on 20 October 2020 following the resignation of Chansey Paech.[5] Before that, she was Assistant Minister for Suicide Prevention, Mental Health, Disability, Youth and Seniors.[6]

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

References
  1. "My Territory Childhood – Ngaree Ah Kit". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  2. "Former Opposition Leader Delia Lawrie has been dumped by the ALP". NT News. 3 October 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  3. "Ngaree Ah Kit: Young Indigenous Leader". State Finalist Young Australian of the Year 2009. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  4. "Ngaree Ah Kit: Suicide prevention crusader". Australia's Local Hero 2016. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  5. "Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory 20 – 22 October 2020 Meetings" (PDF). Northern Territory Parliament. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  6. "Ngaree Ah Kit". The Wheeler Centre. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
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