Linda Burney was elected Member for Canterbury in 2003 and she is currently the NSW Labor Leader of the Opposition. Linda is also the Shadow Minister for Planning, Infrastructure & Heritage Shadow Minister for Sport & Recreation and Shadow Minister for the Hunter Shadow and the Central Coast
Linda was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Training in 2005 and joined Cabinet as Minister for Fair Trading, Youth and Volunteering in 2007.
In September 2008 she was promoted to Minister for Community Services and in December 2009 she was appointed Minister for the State Plan. She has also the Coordinating Minister for the Department of Human Services: the umbrella agency for the portfolios of community services, housing, ageing, disability and home care, juvenile justice and Aboriginal Affairs.
Linda is the first Aboriginal Australian to be elected to the NSW Parliament and a proud member of the Wiradjuri nation. Her commitment to Indigenous issues spans more than 30 years.
She began her career as a teacher in Western Sydney and spent many years working in education. In 2002 her expertise was formally recognised when she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Education from Charles Sturt University. Linda was the first Aboriginal graduate of this respected institution.
Linda has held senior leadership positions in the non-government sector; she has served on a number of boards including SBS, the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board and the NSW Board of Studies. Linda was also an executive member of the National Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, President of the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group and is a former Director-General of the NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs.
Linda has represented Australia at various United Nations forums.
Linda was a proud member of the Keneally Government’s Cabinet where she continued to be a passionate advocate for social justice and as Minister for the State Plan, she was a key driver of improvements in the delivery of public services.
In the Community Services portfolio her primary concern was the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children. Linda took over the Community Services portfolio prior to Justice Wood handing down his report following the Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services. She lead whole of government reform of child protection in response to Justice Wood’s recommendations through the five year-plan Keep Them Safe.