Yingiya Mark Guyula
Yingiya Mark Guyula | |
---|---|
Member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly for Mulka | |
Assumed office 22 August 2020 | |
Preceded by | New seat |
Member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly for Nhulunbuy | |
In office 27 August 2016 – 22 August 2020 | |
Preceded by | Lynne Walker |
Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
Personal details | |
Born | Mirrngadja, Northern Territory, Australia |
Political party | Independent |
Occupation |
|
Website | yingiya |
Yingiya Mark Guyula (Aboriginal pronunciation:
Early life
Guyula was born and raised in Mirrngadja in Arnhem Land where he lived on his country with his family and extended kin learning a Yolŋu way of life. At the age of 10 he began a western education at Shepherdson College on Elcho Island and later went on to attend Dhulpuma College and the Nhulunbuy Area School. He then returned home to his family for a time before moving to Nhulunbuy to work with MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship), being trained in aircraft maintenance and engineering. Eventually he trained as a pilot in Victoria and became the first Yolŋu commercial pilot for the region in 1983.[1]
Career
Guyula went on to work in
Years | Term | Electoral division | Party | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2016–2020 | 13th
|
Nhulunbuy | Independent | |
2020–present | 14th
|
Mulka | Independent |
In 2016 he announced his candidacy for the
Shortly after the election, Guyula attracted criticism from the new Chief Minister, Michael Gunner after he claimed with regards to domestic violence that "A lot of the time, women start the fighting and men end up in jail".[5] Guyula has since said that many young people need support to build strong relationships, and that violence against women is not lawful in Yolngu culture, "As a senior leader, I need to be clear: the family violence we are seeing in our communities is not lawful – it is breaking the law".[6]
Shortly before being sworn into parliament, it was claimed that Guyula was a member of the Milingimbi Local Authority, and thus could be ineligible to run for parliament. The matter was referred to the Court of Disputed Returns.[7] The court dismissed the case on 1 December 2016, after reaching an agreement with the Northern Territory Electoral Commission.[8]
In early 2017 Guyula used
During his time in parliament, Guyula has advocated for policies and programs that respect and work with Yolŋu law, culture and language. After nearly three years of requesting that Standing Orders be amended so that he could speak his first language of
At the 2018
In 2019, Guyula introduced a motion to parliament calling for a parliamentary committee to inquire into policing on Aboriginal land to build better relationships between communities and police, and to empower elders to uphold their cultural authority.[17] Prior to this, it had been revealed by Guyula's questioning that 100% of children in detention in the NT are Indigenous.[18]
Guyula led opposition to the NT Government's proposed Burial and Cremations Bill in 2019, which could have seen Aboriginal people fined tens of thousands of dollars or imprisoned for up to two years for conducting traditional ceremonies as they are outside of government recognised cemeteries. Following his opposition, which was backed by Aboriginal land councils and justice agencies, the government withdrew the bill. Guyula remarked that governments are not listening to or respecting Aboriginal people and sovereignty; "I want to have a Government that is genuine about local decision-making and handing control back to the people. We shouldn’t have to fight for the livelihood of our culture. It should be a partnership".[19]
Although largely elected by the bush vote, which is made up of predominantly
Guyula is opposed to fracking in the Northern Territory and has stated his support for the development of the renewable energy industry. He has said in parliament in relation to the NT Government's decision to lift the moratorium on fracking that, "Strong action on climate change means that we do not support fracking and we move towards renewable energy.[21]
Guyula was reelected at the 2020 general election in a head-to-head rematch with Walker for the newly-created seat of Mulka which replaced Nhulunbuy at that election. He picked up a 4.9-point swing in his favour.[22]
Political views
Guyula was one of four MLAs who opposed a bill that decriminalised abortion in the Northern Territory.[23]
References
- ^ a b "Pilot, lecturer, kingmaker: how a former aeroplane mechanic threw a spanner into NT Parliament". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 9 February 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ "Yolŋu Aboriginal Consultants Initiative". Yolŋu Studies and Research. Charles Darwin University. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ Wahlquist, Calla (11 March 2016). "Treaty push should replace Indigenous Recognise campaign, says Yolngu leader". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ NTEC (24 October 2018). "Nhulunbuy". NTEC. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ Neda Vanovac (1 September 2016). "Domestic violence view wrong: Gunner". News.com.au. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
- ^ Yingiya Guyula (2 February 2020). "Indigenous culture not to blame for alcohol abuse,violence". theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
- ^ "NT Electoral Commission to refer Yingiya Mark Guyula's election to Court of Disputed Returns". Abc.net.au. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
- ^ "Nhulunbuy MLA Guyula to stay in NT Parliament, NTEC application dismissed". ABC News. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
- ^ NT Families department slammed for ‘not following protocol’
- ^ "NT Families department slammed for 'not following protocol'". NITV. 22 February 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ "Subscribe to the NT News". www.ntnews.com.au. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ "Aboriginal child protection laws 'broken' by NT Government, Member for Nhulunbuy says". www.abc.net.au. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ Cross, Hannah (15 May 2019). "Yingiya Mark Guyula makes history, addressing NT Parliament in language". National Indigenous Times. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- )
- ^ "Yolŋu Leader Gives Prince Charles A Treaty Letter Stick... And A Diplomatic 'Middle Finger'". New Matilda. 9 April 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ "From the Big Apple to a tough battle". www.ntnews.com.au. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ "Aboriginal call for police to follow lore of the land". www.theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ Cross, Hannah (30 October 2019). "Controversial Burial and Cremations Bill withdrawn by NT Government". National Indigenous Times. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ "'No consequences': Calls for urgent action as Territorians go without food, power during mobile blackouts". www.abc.net.au. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- )
- ^ Green, Antony. "NT Votes 2020: Mulka". ABC Elections. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/22/abortion-decriminalised-in-northern-territory-after-long-campaign