Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au

Aaron Bunch
NT treaty commissioner could be sacked

The Northern Territory opposition are expected to move a motion in parliament to sack Treaty Commissioner Mick Dodson, who’s accused of abusing women.

May 27, 2021

The Northern Territory’s underfire Indigenous treaty commissioner Mick Dodson could be removed by an act of parliament.

Professor Dodson has been accused of verbally abusing and threatening an Aboriginal woman during an incident at an interstate football game in Darwin in January.

The 71-year-old is also alleged to have called a second woman offensive names during an angry exchange at a casino five months before he was appointed to the role.

The former Australian of the Year has not admitted the allegations, and through his lawyer says he doesn’t remember the first incident but agreed the alleged conduct was disgraceful.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said on Friday he had lost confidence in Prof Dodson and he shouldn’t continue as commissioner until the allegations are cleared up.

But there’s been no word from Prof Dodson, who was expected to resign after he received Mr Gunner’s letter but instead took two weeks personal leave.

NT opposition spokeswoman for women Marie-Clare Boothby on Thursday called on Mr Gunner to do more to resolve the situation, saying she was preparing a motion to remove Prof Dodson for June’s parliamentary sitting.

“The allegations against the commissioner are extremely serious,” she told reporters.

“Abusing an indigenous woman, threatening violence against her.”

Ms Boothby said action would have been taken immediately against Prof Dodson had the allegations been made in the non-government sector.

“This absolutely needs some action because if there isn’t, it’s disrespectful to every woman in the Territory,” she said.

A two-thirds majority in the Legislative Assembly is the only way Prof Dodson can be removed from his post if he doesn’t resign.

Yawuru man Prof Dodson was named the Australian of the Year in 2009 for his work advocating for the rights of Indigenous Australians.

As a barrister specialising in native title and human rights, he assisted the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in the 1980s.

In 1993, he was appointed as Australia’s first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, a post he held until 1998.

He was appointed NT’s Treaty Commissioner in February 2019 and is also a former chief executive of the Northern Land Council.

His lawyer David De Silva has previously said his client had been receiving treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, which stemmed from his childhood.

“Upon being advised of the incident Prof Dodson’s immediate response to the complainant’s representatives was to agree with their description of the alleged conduct as being disgraceful,” he said.

“The medical advice given to Prof Dodson is that continued treatment will assist in managing and overcoming the effects of PTSD.”

Prof Dodson’s role as NT treaty commissioner is to consult with Aboriginal people and develop a framework for future treaty negotiations.

Mr De Silva has been contacted for comment.

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