Neville Perkins
Encyclopedia
Neville George Perkins OAM
, (born 4 January 1952), is an Australia
n politician and public servant.
peoples who was born and bred at Mbantua, Alice Springs. He attended Newington College
(1963–1969), commencing in the preparatory school, Wyvern House
. He is a graduate of the University of Sydney
.
member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
from 1977 to 1981, representing the electorate of MacDonnell
. He was the first indigenous person in Australia to hold a shadow ministry in an Australian parliament, and subsequently became the party's deputy leader. Perkins resigned in 1981, not long into his second term.
He later served as Secretary of the New South Wales Department of Aboriginal Affairs from 1987 to 1988. He is the Founder of the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, a Founder of the Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service, the first Aboriginal General Manager of Aboriginal Hostels Limited, and the first Aboriginal General Manager of Imparja Television Pty Ltd
. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management
.
He left the position of Imparja Television Director soon after a legal battle with the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance
. He also briefly worked as director of UNSW's Aboriginal Education Program, and alleged his predecessor, Anne Martin, used the centre to help Democrats Senator Aden Ridgeway
when she was his campaign manager. Mr Perkins left that position also, and wrote to the federal government seeking an inquiry into alleged mismanagement by centre staff and misuse of facilities over a number of years. Again, following a disagreement with people in the workplace, this time at National Indigenous Television
(NITV), he left the position and called on the Federal Government to inquire into NITV.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, (born 4 January 1952), is an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician and public servant.
Early life
Perkins is a descendant of the Eastern and Central AruntaArrernte people
The Arrernte people , known in English as the Aranda or Arunta, are those Indigenous Australians who are the original custodians of Arrernte lands in the central area of Australia around Mparntwe or Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. The Arrernte tribe has lived there for more than 20,000 years...
peoples who was born and bred at Mbantua, Alice Springs. He attended Newington College
Newington College
Newington College is an independent, Uniting Church, day and boarding school for boys, located in Stanmore, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
(1963–1969), commencing in the preparatory school, Wyvern House
Wyvern House
Wyvern House, is one of the two single-sex, preparatory day schools for boys of Newington College and is located at 115 Cambridge Street Stanmore, New South Wales, Australia....
. He is a graduate of the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
.
Career
Pekins was an Australian Labor PartyAustralian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory is the unicameral parliament of the Northern Territory in Australia. It sits in Parliament House, located on State Square, close to the centre of the city of Darwin.-History:...
from 1977 to 1981, representing the electorate of MacDonnell
Electoral division of MacDonnell
MacDonnell is an electoral division of the Legislative Assembly in Australia's Northern Territory. It was first created in 1974, and derives its name from the nearby MacDonnell Ranges. MacDonnell is an almost entirely rural electorate, covering 333398.61 km², and taking in the resort town of...
. He was the first indigenous person in Australia to hold a shadow ministry in an Australian parliament, and subsequently became the party's deputy leader. Perkins resigned in 1981, not long into his second term.
He later served as Secretary of the New South Wales Department of Aboriginal Affairs from 1987 to 1988. He is the Founder of the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, a Founder of the Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service, the first Aboriginal General Manager of Aboriginal Hostels Limited, and the first Aboriginal General Manager of Imparja Television Pty Ltd
Imparja Television Pty Ltd
Imparja Television Pty Ltd is a commercial television company servicing remote eastern and central Australia that began broadcasting on 2 January 1988. It is based in Alice Springs, where it has a studio and satellite uplink facility...
. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management
Australian Institute of Management
The Australian Institute of Management is Australia's largest professional body for managers. The sole purpose of AIM is to promote the advancement of education and learning in the field of management and leadership for commerce, industry and government. It is not for profit entity with branches...
.
He left the position of Imparja Television Director soon after a legal battle with the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance is the Australian trade union and professional organisation which covers the media, entertainment, sports and arts industries...
. He also briefly worked as director of UNSW's Aboriginal Education Program, and alleged his predecessor, Anne Martin, used the centre to help Democrats Senator Aden Ridgeway
Aden Ridgeway
Aden Derek Ridgeway , Australian politician, was a member of the Australian Senate for New South Wales, from 1999 to 2005, representing the Australian Democrats. During his term he was the only Aboriginal member of the Australian Parliament.-Early history:Ridgeway was born in Macksville, New South...
when she was his campaign manager. Mr Perkins left that position also, and wrote to the federal government seeking an inquiry into alleged mismanagement by centre staff and misuse of facilities over a number of years. Again, following a disagreement with people in the workplace, this time at National Indigenous Television
National Indigenous Television
National Indigenous Television, commonly referred to as NITV, is an Australian television network broadcasting throughout Australia via satellite.-History:...
(NITV), he left the position and called on the Federal Government to inquire into NITV.
Honours
- Medal of the Order of AustraliaOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(OAM) for service to Aboriginal welfare, 26 January 1984.