Linda Burney

The Honourable Linda Burney MP
Minister for Indigenous Australians
In office 1 June 2022 – 29 July 2024
Prime Minister	Anthony Albanese
Preceded by	Ken Wyatt
Succeeded by	Malarndirri McCarthy
Member of the Australian Parliament for Barton
Incumbent
Assumed office 2 July 2016
Preceded by	Nickolas Varvaris
Deputy Leader of the Opposition in New South Wales
In office 8 April 2011 – 7 March 2016
Leader	John Robertson Luke Foley
Preceded by	Jillian Skinner
Succeeded by	Michael Daley
National President of the Labor Party
In office 27 December 2008 – 30 July 2009
Preceded by	Mike Rann
Succeeded by	Michael Williamson
NSW Minister (2007-2011) Minister for Community Services In office 8 September 2008 – 28 March 2011 Premier Nathan Rees Kristina Keneally Preceded by Kevin Greene Succeeded by Pru Goward (Family and Community Services) Minister for Youth In office 2 April 2007 – 5 September 2008 Premier Morris Iemma Preceded by Reba Meagher Succeeded by Graham West
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Canterbury
In office 22 March 2003 – 6 May 2016
Preceded by	Kevin Moss
Succeeded by	Sophie Cotsis
Personal details
Born	(1957-04-25) 25 April 1957 (age 67) Whitton, New South Wales, Australia
Political party	Labor
Spouse	Rick Farley (d. 2006)
Children	2
Alma mater	Mitchell College of Advanced Education
Occupation	Teacher
Website	www.lindaburney.com.au

Linda Jean Burney (born 25 April 1957) is an Australian politician and former teacher serving as the current minister for Indigenous Australians since 2022. A member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), she has been the member of Parliament (MP) for the division of Barton since 2016, having previously been a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the district of Canterbury from 2003 to 2016. Burney is the first Aboriginal woman 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 person to identify as Aboriginal to serve in the New South Wales Parliament upon her election in 2003. She later became the first Aboriginal woman 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, ahead of a cabinet reshuffle to be announced on 28 July 2024.