Wikipedia

Malarndirri Barbara Anne McCarthy (born 1970) is an Indigenous Australian politician and former journalist who has been a Senator for the Northern Territory since 2016. She is the Minister for Indigenous Australians in the Albanese Government since 29 July 2024. She previously served in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly.

After working for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as a reporter and newsreader for 16 years, in 2005, McCarthy was elected to the NT Legislative Assembly for the division of Arnhem. She was re-elected unopposed in 2008, and was subsequently appointed to the ministry by Paul Henderson. She held a number of portfolios over the following four years, but lost her seat in Labor's landslide defeat at the 2012 election. McCarthy subsequently returned to the media as a presenter for NITV and SBS News. She re-entered politics as Labor's lead Senate candidate in the Northern Territory at the 2016 federal election. She was appointed Minister for Indigenous Australians in July 2024 after Linda Burney announced her retirement from parliament.

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Voting Record Full record ↗

Voted for

same-sex marriage equality tobacco plain packaging increasing trade unions' powers in the workplace increasing funding for road infrastructure encouraging Australian-based industry increasing consumer protections buffer zones around abortion clinics imprisoning immigration detention workers who record or reveal information from their work a national redress scheme for institutional abuse survivors a Free Trade Agreement with China doctor-initiated medical transfers for asylum seekers

Mixed / less clear

compulsory income management for welfare recipients removing children from immigration detention the Murray Darling Basin Plan self-governance of the territories increasing the diversity of media ownership maintaining or increasing defence spending universal access to abortion services the Paris Climate Agreement a Royal Commission into Robodebt extending Jobkeeper Payment reproductive bodily autonomy

Voted against

temporary protection visas voluntary student union fees requiring a warrant to access citizens’ telecommunications records landholders' right to say no to mining and gas exploration requiring Parliamentary approval of military deployments a Royal Commission into banking the use of strong encryption technologies the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) a same-sex marriage plebiscite increasing the initial tax rate for working holiday makers to 19% an Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC)

Interests & Gifts

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Real Estate

Interests

Location: Nightcliff, NT (Co-owned with spouse) · Purpose For Which Owned: Residential
Location: Larrakeyah, NT (Co-owned with spouse) · Purpose For Which Owned: Investment
Location: Claimant for land claims in progress under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (ALRA). Claims relate to all or part of the claim areas in the following reports by the Aboriginal Land Commissioner: · Purpose For Which Owned: Traditional Owner
Location: McArthur River Region Land Claim (No. 184) and part of Manangoora Region Land Claim (No. 185); and · Purpose For Which Owned: Traditional Owner
Location: Lorella Region Land Claim (No. 199) and part of Maria Island Region Land Claim (No. 198). · Purpose For Which Owned: Traditional Owner
Location: In these reports, the Commissioner made recommendations to the Minister to grant the land claimed. · Purpose For Which Owned: Traditional Owner
Location: Traditional Aboriginal Owner (as defined in the ALRA) for Vanderlin Island (Wurralibi Aboriginal Land Trust), as recorded by the Northern Land Council, NT. · Purpose For Which Owned: Traditional Owner
Location: Holder of beneficial interest in the Narwinbi Aboriginal Land Trust (‘Borroloola Commons’), as recorded by the Northern Land Council, NT. · Purpose For Which Owned: Traditional Owner
Location: Second Generation Jungkayi (‘custodian’ for mother’s country), for Wuyaliya Country, Southwest Island, NT (Wurrabili Aboriginal Land Trust) · Purpose For Which Owned: Traditional Owner
Location: Jungkayi (‘custodian’) for the Emu Dreaming and country called Ngalamja. This country is on 7 Emu Station, NT. · Purpose For Which Owned: Traditional Owner

Liabilities

Interests

Nature Of Liability: Mortgage on investment property - Larrakeyah, NT (Co-owned with spouse) · Creditor: Commonwealth Bank
Nature Of Liability: Mortgage on residence - Nightcliff, NT (Co-owned with spouse) · Creditor: Commonwealth Bank
Nature Of Liability: Personal loan · Creditor: Commonwealth Bank

Savings Or Investment Accounts

Interests

Nature Of Account: Savings account - Declared on original statement lodged by Senator McCarthy on 19 August 2025. This was not published due to technical issues in the APH Register system. · Name Of Bank Institution: Commonwealth Bank
Nature Of Account: Savings account (3) - Declared on original statement lodged by Senator McCarthy on 19 August 2025. This was not published due to technical issues in the APH Register system. · Name Of Bank Institution: ANZ

Other Assets

Interests

Name Of Other Asset: Club Wyndham South Pacific - vacation credits
Name Of Other Asset: Superannuation - Public Sector Superannuation Accumulation Plan

Other Income

Interests

Name Of Income: Rent from investment property (Larrakeyah, NT)

Gifts

Interests

Detail Of Gifts: McKinnon Institute Leadership course at Adelaide Hills (previously declared)

Malarndirri McCarthy