Which Labor leader will be better on Indigenous issues?

In Canberra tomorrow, Labor Party members will cast their votes on who they prefer as leader. ACT Labor member Chris Bourke explains which candidate may be better on Indigenous issues.

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Anothony Albanese and Bill Shorten at the Labor leadership debate in 2013.

In Canberra tomorrow, Labor Party members will cast their votes on who they prefer as leader between Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese.

Dr Chris Bourke was the first Indigenous person elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly.

One key difference between the candidates though is representation for Aboriginal people in Parliament. 

Bill Shorten says he'd like to introduce quotas, so more Indigenous people are preselected in safe Labor seats, resulting in more Indigenous MPs.

But Anthony Albanese disagrees: he says if there are capable people, they'll work their way to the top - Like Linda Burney, who is now the Deputy Leader of the party in the New South Wales Parliament.

But Labor still hasn't had an Indigenous MP, and until recently hadn't had a senator either.

Tomorrow the members of the caucus cast their votes, then the membership vote is collated and on Sunday Australia will have a new opposition leader.


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Published 9 October 2013 4:42pm
Updated 9 October 2013 9:42pm
By Brooke Boney
Source: NITV News


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