Australia's first indigenous female MP is set to stand down from the West Australian parliament after being vilified as a "toxic coconut".
WA Labor MP Carol Martin, 54, has told the party's state leader, Eric Ripper, that she would not contest the next state election, due in March 2013.
It comes after Ms Martin, MP for Kimberley, was targeted for supporting the rights of the Goolarabooloo Jabirr Jabirr people to strike a deal with energy firm Woodside over a planned $30 billion gas hub near Broome.
Ms Martin's position has put her at odds with her own extended family and some members of her constituency.
An anonymously written local newsletter recently described her and other supporters of the Woodside plan as "brown on the outside and full of the the milk of the white man's money".
Ms Martin's name then appeared on a list of Aboriginal people described as "toxic coconuts", in the same newsletter.
The MP described it as the worst public slur she'd ever encountered.
Ms Martin became the first indigenous woman to be elected to any Australian parliament in 2001.
Labor Leader Eric Ripper today acknowledged the significant contribution to the Kimberley region and Western Australia by Mrs Martin during her 10 years in State Parliament.
Mr Ripper said Mrs Martin was the first Indigenous woman elected to any Parliament in Australia and she had been an outstanding advocate for all people in the Kimberley region.
“Carol has made a valuable contribution to the people of Western Australia and has worked towards building better facilities and services in the fast-growing Kimberley region,” Mr Ripper said in a statement.
“Carol has been a passionate advocate for bettering the lives of people in the Kimberley.”
Mr Ripper said as the member for Kimberley, Mrs Martin was involved in a number of projects including:
- Securing more than $100 million for the replacement or upgrades to every hospital in the Kimberley;
- Spending $50 million on education throughout the Kimberley and building and upgrading schools;
- Upgrading critical infrastructure in the Kimberley region including roads and power supplies;
- Building multi-function police facilities at Balgo, Bidyadanga, Dampier Peninsular, Kalumburu and Warmun; and
- Continuing work on the Ord River Irrigation Scheme and associated native title issues.
Mr Ripper said Mrs Martin would continue to strongly represent the interests of the Kimberley electorate until stepping down from her role in March 2013.
“On a personal note I have valued Carol’s support and advice on matters affecting her community and more broadly across the state,” he said.
“On behalf of the Labor Party of Western Australia I wish Carol and her family the best for the future and thank her for her outstanding contribution to State Parliament and the community.”
