Controversial Pastoralist David Connolly Set to Become Northern Territory Administrator
A firestorm of controversy surrounds the impending appointment of David Connolly as the next administrator of Australia’s Northern Territory, fueled by past comments and social media posts deemed offensive by Indigenous leaders and Labor politicians. Connolly, a prominent pastoralist, is due to take office in eight days, assuming the territory’s equivalent of a state governor role – a largely ceremonial position representing the crown in the Top End.
Connolly has openly dismissed criticism throughout his career, stating at a 2023 Northern Territory Cattleman’s Association conference, “I’ve been called ‘bigoted’, ‘racist’, ‘homophobic’, ‘transphobic’, ‘elitist’, ‘prejudiced’, ‘[a] destroyer of the environment’, ‘[a] torturer of animals’, ‘discriminatory’, ‘biased’, ‘intolerant’, ‘chauvinistic’, ‘small-minded’, ‘
He further demonstrated this dismissive attitude in a social media post responding to a fine issued to a cattle station owner for breaching environmental regulations. “He would be severely fined. After experiencing this, you cannot convince me they are doing good for the country,” Connolly wrote.
Further fueling the debate, Guardian Australia revealed that connolly, in a 2024 speech, leveled insults at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and made a sweeping generalization about crime, claiming, “the main group of people perpetrating these criminal actions have been in Australia for 60,000 years.”
The administrator’s role,based in Darwin’s oldest European building – a gothic villa with a rich history surviving bombing raids and cyclones – is intended to be nonpartisan. Though, the appointment has ignited a political battle. Labor’s three federal MPs in the territory – indigenous Australians minister Malarndirri McCarthy, Marion scrymgour, and Luke Gosling – released a statement calling Connolly’s posts “reprehensible and offensive” and urging an apology. While stopping short of demanding his removal, they underscored the sensitivity of Canberra appearing to dictate terms to the Northern Territory.
Matthew Ryan, chair of the Northern Land Council, and the Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the NT have gone further, calling for Connolly to be blocked from taking the role. “I can tell you now I’m not going to talk to him if he gets appointed,” Ryan told the ABC.
The appointment highlights a long-standing conflict between pastoral interests and Indigenous land rights, with Indigenous rights covering approximately 78% of the Northern Territory’s landmass and pastoral use encompassing around 60% of the same area. According to Robyn Smith, a lecturer in colonial history at Charles Darwin University, the selection of connolly, who has openly opposed the Voice referendum and treaty processes, sends a clear signal. “The [Country Liberal party] has always been about land and money,” Smith explained. “That’s what the administrator-designate represents, the pastoral interest on that land.”
Connolly has previously criticized the 1975 handover of Wave Hill station to the Gurindji people, arguing it had “unintended consequences” that ultimately displaced Aboriginal people.”He couldn’t foresee the trouble he was going to cause to the cattlemen and the land owners and the people of Australia,” Connolly stated in a 2022 speech. “It’s easy to give away things you don’t own to people you don’t know so you can keep another group of people happy.”
Past administrators have also faced scrutiny regarding political affiliations.The current administrator, Hugh Heggie, reportedly submitted pro-Labor views to the ABC before the 2024 federal election, though a spokesperson stated he does not publicly express political preferences.A previous administrator, John hardy, had previously donated to the Country Liberal Party. However, Smith argues that Connolly’s appointment represents a notable escalation.
Despite the outcry, Connolly struck a conciliatory tone on Monday, releasing a statement to local media outlets.He said it had not been his intention to cause offense and pledged to be “a fierce advocate for all Territorians.” He characterized his previous social media posts as expressions made before he even considered seeking the administrator role.
