Jack Ah Kit
Jack Ah Kit | |
|---|---|
 Ah Kit in 2004 | |
| Member of theParliament of the Northern TerritoryforArnhem | |
| In office 7 October 1995 – 16 June 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Wes Lanhupuy |
| Succeeded by | Malarndirri McCarthy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Leonard Ah Kit 22 July 1950 Alice Springs,Northern Territory, Australia |
| Died | 12 July 2020(aged 69) Darwin, Northern Territory,Australia |
| Political party | Labor Party |
| Domestic partner | Gail Canendo |
| Children | Ngaree Ah Kit,Jonathan Ah Kit |
John Leonard Ah Kit(22 July 1950 – 12 July 2020) was an Australian politician. He was theLabormember forArnhemin theNorthern Territory Legislative Assemblyfrom 1995 to 2005.
Early life
[edit]Ah Kit was born on 22 July 1950 inAlice Springs,the fifth child in aJawoynfamily of 13. He moved with his family to Darwin in 1954.[1]He attended Darwin and Parap primary schools and Darwin High School.[2]
Biography
[edit]In 1983, he was elected to the Full Council of the Northern Land Council (NLC) representing Aboriginal people in the Katherine region. In 1984 he was appointed Director of the Northern Land Council from 1984 to 1990. He resigned in 1990 to contest the seat of Goyder for the Labor Party.[2]He played an important role in 1991 in Jawoyn efforts to stop the mining of gold, palladium and platinum at Coronation Hill in 1991, Ah Kit was instrumental in theJawoyntraditional owners’ battle to prevent gold, palladium and platinum mining at Coronation Hill, the resting site of Jawoyn creator being Bula.[3]
Ah Kit was Executive Director of the Jawoyn Association from 1991 to 1995 before his election to parliament in a by-election following the resignation ofWes Lanhupuy.He served as a minister in the first term of theMartinGovernment, a historical milestone as he was the first indigenous minister in the Territory's history. When elected to parliament, John Ah Kit became the ninth Indigenous parliamentarian in Australian history.[1]
| Years | Term | Electoral division | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–1997 | 7th | Stuart | Labor | |
| 1997–2001 | 8th | Stuart | Labor | |
| 2001–2005 | 9th | Stuart | Labor | |
While in parliament he held a number of portfolios:
- Minister for Community Development
- Minister for Housing
- Minister for Local Government
- Minister for Sport and Recreation
- Minister for Regional Development
- Minister assisting the Chief Minister on Indigenous Affairs[1]
Ah Kit retired in 2005 citing ill health.[4]His daughterNgaree Ah Kitwas elected to the Legislative Assembly in 2016. Ah Kit died atRoyal Darwin Hospitalon the evening of 12 July 2020, aged 69.[5][6]
Awards
[edit]- 2007 National NAIDOC Awards – Lifetime Achievement Award – John (Jak) Ah Kit
- Doctor of Letters Honoris Causa awarded by the Council of Charles Darwin University[2]
References
[edit]- ^abc"Biographic details: John Ah Kit, MLA for Arnhem"(PDF).Territory Stories.Retrieved19 July2015.
- ^abc"Honorary Awards John Ah Kit"(PDF).Charles Darwin University.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 22 December 2014.Retrieved19 July2015.
- ^Allam, Lorena (13 July 2020)."John Ah Kit: leader and tireless advocate for Aboriginal rights dies aged 69".The Guardian.Retrieved14 July2020.
- ^Green, Antony(2008)."Retiring MPs".2008 Northern Territory Election.Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Retrieved30 October2010.
- ^"Trailblazing NT Aboriginal cabinet minister John Ah Kit dies, aged 69".abc.net.au.12 July 2020.Retrieved12 July2020.
- ^"Former NT Labor Cabinet minister John Ah Kit dies".The NT News.12 July 2020.Retrieved12 July2020.
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