Opposition leader to boycott controversial NT administrator’s swearing-in

Northern Territory Opposition Leader Selena Uibo will boycott the swearing-in of incoming administrator David Connolly as protest action is organised outside the NT Parliament House.

The appointment has drawn sustained criticism over Mr Connolly’s past social media posts and the exclusion of several non-government MLAs from the ceremony.

Ms Uibo was the only member of the Labor opposition invited. Independent Indigenous MLA Yingiya Guyula said he had not been invited, despite receiving invitations to past swearing-ins for former administrator Hugh Heggie and deputy administrator Fran Kilgariff.

At the same time as the ceremony, a protest described as a “community meeting” has been organised outside the building to oppose the appointment.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro claimed Ms Uibo called the chief minister’s office to ask for an invitation

Background on the appointment

David Connolly, a former president of the NT Cattlemen’s Association, was announced in December as the Northern Territory’s next administrator — a role described as the equivalent of a State governor, with a $377,000 salary.

His selection has been contested after the emergence of a series of past posts on his recently deleted X (formerly Twitter) account. The posts addressed topics including Indigenous cultural practices, women in sport and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Indigenous groups have called for the appointment to be revoked. Earlier this month, opposition and crossbench members staged a walkout of parliamentary Question Time to protest his selection.

Mr Connolly issued a statement after his posts came to light, saying it was never his “intention to cause offence”, but he has not apologised. Despite the criticism, the NT government continues to back him, and he is due to be sworn in on Friday morning at the NT Parliament House.

“Does not strengthen the community”

— Selena Uibo told the ABC

Ms Uibo said the Labor opposition had raised concerns from the Northern Territory community about what it sees as an inappropriate appointment by Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro and the CLP government. Ms Uibo characterised community sentiment as believing the appointment “does not strengthen the community”. She was the sole Labor opposition member invited to the ceremony.

Independent Indigenous MLA Yingiya Guyula said he was not invited to the event, contrasting the omission with his previous invitations to the swearing-ins of Hugh Heggie and Fran Kilgariff.

He said the exclusion suggested a political appointment and argued that his public position opposing the choice may have contributed to the decision not to invite him. He stated that Connolly’s past comments indicate he would not represent all Territorians.

David Connolly’s past X posts have sparked calls to revoke the appointment.

Government’s position

The NT government has stood by the appointment. Ms Finocchiaro said non-government MLAs were not invited to the swearing-in following the staged walkout by the opposition and crossbench during Question Time earlier this month.

She told ABC Radio Darwin that independent members, the opposition and the Greens had made their views “very, very clear”, and she did not want the ceremony to become a public spectacle.

Ms Finocchiaro also claimed Ms Uibo called the chief minister’s office on Friday to ask for an invitation, which was sent on the expectation the opposition leader would attend and deliver a speech, before Ms Uibo announced her boycott.

“When we talk about this being pure politics, I think that says it all.”

— Lia Finocchiaro, told ABC News

Ms Uibo rejected Ms Finocchiaro’s claim that she had requested an invitation, telling Darwin radio station Mix FM that she did not make such a call.

 Key developments

• December: David Connolly announced as the Northern Territory’s next administrator, a role equivalent to a state governor, with a $377,000 salary
• Earlier this month: Opposition and crossbench MLAs stage a walkout during parliamentary Question Time over the appointment
• Monday: Selena Uibo says she will boycott the swearing-in and notes she was the only Labor opposition member invited
• This morning: Lia Finocchiaro says non-government MLAs were not invited due to the walkout, and claims Uibo requested an invitation
• Friday morning: Mr Connolly is due to be sworn in at the NT Parliament House while a protest “community meeting” is held outside

Protest planned

A protest billed as a “community meeting” has been organised to coincide with the ceremony, to be held in front of parliament. Independent MLA Justine Davis, who recently wrote to King Charles about Connolly’s appointment, said she would attend the protest and that she was not invited to the swearing-in.

Ms Davis said the gathering is intended to allow people to express their views on the appointment and that many are upset and angry. Community unease also reflects calls from Indigenous groups for Connolly’s appointment to be revoked, amid ongoing criticism of his social media posts before the account was deleted.