Chansey Paech: Difference between revisions

Paech was preselected as the Labor candidate for Namatjira for the [[2016 Northern Territory general election|2016 Territory election]]. The seat's incumbent since 2005 (dating to when the seat was known as [[electoral division of MacDonnell|MacDonnell]]), independent [[Alison Anderson]], was retiring after three terms. On paper, Paech faced daunting odds. The seat had a notional [[Country Liberal Party]] majority of 20.8 percent, and a redistribution had seemingly consolidated the CLP's hold on the seat by pushing it into Alice Springs.<ref name=Namatjira>{{cite web|title=Electorate: Namatjira|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nt-election-2016/guide/nama/|website=ABC News|accessdate=28 August 2016}}</ref> However, Anderson, who had served under four banners during her tenure (Labor, CLP, independent, [[Palmer United Party|Palmer United]] and independent again) endorsed Paech as her successor; she is a longtime indigenousIndigenous activist, and retained substantial goodwill in the area.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-11/clp-facing-uphill-battle-in-bush-electorates/7719222 | title=NT election: CLP facing uphill battle in bush electorates | work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=11 August 2016 | accessdate=12 August 2016 | author=Bardon, Jane}}</ref> The [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation |ABC]]'s election analyst [[Antony Green]] believed that Anderson's endorsement made Namatjira "a certain Labor gain."<ref>[[Antony Green|Green, Antony]]. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nt-election-2016/guide/preview/ NT election preview]. [[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]], 2016-08-08.</ref>

Paech is the first openly gay indigenousIndigenous MP in Australia.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/allanclarke/meet-out-first-gay-aboriginal-politician | title=Meet The First Gay Aboriginal Politician Elected To An Australian Parliament | work=Buzzfeed | date=5 September 2016 | accessdate=5 September 2016}}</ref> He gave his [[maiden speech|maiden parliamentary speech]] on 19 October 2016, in which he said he entered the chamber "eternally proud of who I am and where I come from ... I am young, I am gay, I am black; a true-blue Territorian. I am a proud face of the diversity and future of the great Australian Labor party."<ref name = maiden /> He added: "I look forward to the day when this country will recognise my rights as equal rights, when I too can marry in my country, on my country, as a recognised first Australian."<ref name = maiden>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/oct/19/i-am-young-i-am-gay-i-am-black-says-chansey-paech-to-nt-parliament |title = 'I am young, I am gay, I am black,' says Chansey Paech to NT parliament|first = Helen|last = Davidson|newspaper = [[Guardian Australia]]|date = 19 October 2016|accessdate = 20 October 2016}}</ref><ref name=sbsnitv />

In June 2020, Paech was elected [[Speaker of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly]], making him the first Aboriginal and openly gay speaker of an Australian Parliament,<ref>[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-25/nt-mla-chansey-paech-elected-first-indigenous-speaker/12387438 Australians first Aboriginal and openly gay speaker of an Australian Parliament] </ref> replacing [[Kezia Purick]], who resigned after findings of corrupt conduct against her by the Northern Territory Independent Commissioner Against Corruption. He won the new seat of [[Electoral division of Gwoja|Gwoja]] at the [[2020 Northern Territory general election|2020 Territory election]].<ref name="speaker">{{cite news |title=Chansey Paech elected first Indigenous Speaker of an Australian Parliament |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-25/nt-mla-chansey-paech-elected-first-indigenous-speaker/12387438 |accessdate=21 July 2020 |work=ABC News |date=24 June 2020 |language=en-AU}}</ref>

He resigned as Speaker in September 2020 to join the [[Gunner Ministry]] as Minister for Local Government; Minister for Central Australia Economic Reconstruction; Minister for Remote Housing and Town Camps; Minister for Indigenous Essential Services; and Minister for Arts and Culture.{{cn}}

Paech is a member of the Labor Party's [[Labor Left|Left]] faction]].{{cn}}