Dorinda Cox becomes first female Aboriginal Senator from WA

The Yamatji and Noongar woman is the seventh active First Nations representative in federal parliament.

West Australian Greens Senator Dorinda Cox is hugged by fellow Senator Lidia Thorpe after a swearing in ceremony in the Senate Chamber at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, October 18, 2021. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING

The senator vowed to use her personal experiences to fight violence against women and children, cast into heavy relief this year by continued abuse. Source: AAP

Western Australia has its first-ever Indigenous female representative in the federal senate after Yamatji and Noongar woman Dorinda Cox was sworn in this morning.

Wearing a Booka (kangaroo cloak), Ms Cox embraced fellow Greens Senators Lidia Thorpe and Mehreen Faruqi following the formalities.

Ms Cox won the Greens' preselection to represent the state last month replacing Rachel Siewert.

On Friday, Senator Cox said climate was a key topic as parliament resumed.

"The impact of climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable target groups," she told AAP.

"Weather patterns are going to be more extreme and affect regional communities and First Nations people, and others who don't have the means to be able to plan for that."

Before entering politics, Senator Cox had a career in the WA Police Force, joining as a teenage cadet.

"I never believed or dreamed that I would be an Australian senator working in the Australian Parliament, so this day is overwhelming," she told NITV News last month.
There are now seven First Nations representatives in federal parliament.

Senator Cox joins fellow Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe, Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt, Labor's Pat Dodson, Linda Burney and Malarndirri McCarthy, and Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie.

Ms Cox told NITV News last month she wants to continue advocating for women's safety issues and an inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women in WA.

She also said that she is passionate about securing greater protection on cultural heritage in the state, as well as addressing homelessness.
West Australian Greens Senator Dorinda Cox is sworn in during a ceremony in the Senate Chamber at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, October 18, 2021. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING
WA Greens Senator Dorinda Cox is sworn in during a ceremony in the Senate Chamber at Parliament House. Source: AAP

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2 min read
Published 18 October 2021 12:16pm
Updated 18 October 2021 12:26pm
By Jodan Perry, Sarah Collard
Source: NITV News


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