Linda Burney

Linda Burney
Minister for Indigenous Australians
In office
1 June 2022 – 29 July 2024
Prime MinisterAnthony Albanese
Preceded byKen Wyatt
Succeeded byMalarndirri McCarthy
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Barton
Assumed office
2 July 2016
Preceded byNickolas Varvaris
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
in New South Wales
In office
8 April 2011 – 7 March 2016
LeaderJohn Robertson
Luke Foley
Preceded byJillian Skinner
Succeeded byMichael Daley
National President of the Labor Party
In office
27 December 2008 – 30 July 2009
Preceded byMike Rann
Succeeded byMichael Williamson
NSW Minister (2007-2011)
Minister for Community Services
In office
8 September 2008 – 28 March 2011
PremierNathan Rees
Kristina Keneally
Preceded byKevin Greene
Succeeded byPru Goward (Family and Community Services)
Minister for Youth
In office
2 April 2007 – 5 September 2008
PremierMorris Iemma
Preceded byReba Meagher
Succeeded byGraham West
Member of the New South Wales Parliament
for Canterbury
In office
22 March 2003 – 6 May 2016
Preceded byKevin Moss
Succeeded bySophie Cotsis
Personal details
Born (1957-04-25) 25 April 1957 (age 67)
Whitton, New South Wales, Australia
Political partyLabor
SpouseRick Farley (d. 2006)
Children2
Alma materMitchell College of Advanced Education
OccupationTeacher
Websitewww.lindaburney.com.au

Linda Jean Burney (born 25 April 1957) is an Australian politician, a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the member of Parliament (MP) for the division of Barton since 2016. She was the minister for Indigenous Australians from 2022 to July 2024. She was formerly a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the district of Canterbury from 2003 to 2016 and previously a teacher. Burney is the first known woman to identify as Aboriginal to be elected to the Australian House of Representatives.

Burney was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Canterbury for Labor from 2003 to 2016. During this election time she was the New South Wales Deputy Leader of the Opposition and was also Shadow Minister for Education and Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. In the Keneally ministry, she was the Minister for the State Plan and Minister for Community Services. During 2008 and 2009, Burney served as the National President of the Labor Party.

Burney was the first known person to identify as Aboriginal to serve in the New South Wales Parliament upon her election in 2003. She later became the first known woman to identify as Aboriginal in the Australian House of Representatives upon her entry into federal politics at the 2016 election. After the election of Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Party at the 2022 federal election, Burney was appointed minister for Indigenous Australians in the new government.

On 25 July 2024, Burney announced her retirement from federal Parliament at the next election and, on 28 July 2024, was replaced as a minister in cabinet reshuffle.