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LONG-SERVING FEDERAL LABOR MP WARREN SNOWDON TO RETIRE FROM HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES By Lauren Roberts * Topic:Government and Politics Thu 10 Dec 2020Thursday 10 December 2020Thu 10 Dec 2020
at 5:57am Federal Northern Territory Labor MP Warren Snowdon has announced his retirement from politics after 31 years in Australian Parliament. KEY POINTS: * Mr Snowdon first entered
Parliament in 1987, when it still sat in Old Parliament House * The decision comes after the NT secured two seats in the Lower House despite its population decline * The Prime Minister
described him as a "good Labor man" Mr Snowdon, 70, was first elected in 1987 and served for more than three decades — taking a break from politics in the 1990s. He is the last
member of Parliament to have sat in Old Parliament House. On the last sitting day of the year, the Member for Lingiari today told the Lower House he would not be re-contesting the next
election. > "It's time to roll up my swag and move on," he said. "This has been an intensely difficult decision for me as I remain fiercely dedicated to the people of
Lingiari, the most interesting and diverse electorate in Australia." CALLS FOR ENSHRINED FIRST NATIONS VOICE Mr Snowdon said he had made the decision after the Federal Parliament passed
legislation on Wednesday to guarantee the NT's two seats — Lingiari and Solomon — at the next federal election. In July, the Northern Territory faced the prospect of having its federal
representation halved when the Australian Electoral Commission determined the jurisdiction was only entitled to one federal seat because of population decline. Mr Snowdon's seat of
Lingiari covers 1,348,158 square kilometres, or 99.99 per cent of the Northern Territory as well as the Christmas and Cocos Islands. He was re-elected as the Member for Lingiari last year,
with an election margin of 5.5 per cent. In his retirement speech, Mr Snowdon described his time serving as "the greatest privilege of my life". Mr Snowdon also called for greater
recognition of Australia's First Nations people. "As a priority, we need to ensure the constitutionally entrenched First Nations' voice to the Parliament as well as a
Makarrata process for treaty-making and a process for truth-telling," Mr Snowdon said. He concluded his speech by quoting Miles Franklin Award-winning author Xavier Herbert. "Until
we give back to the Blackman just a bit of the land that was his, without strings to snatch it back, without anything but complete generosity of spirit in concession for the evil we have
done him, until we do that we will remain what we have always been so far: a people without integrity; not a nation, but a community of thieves," Mr Snowdon said. PM, LABOR BIDS
FAREWELL Prime Minister Scott Morrison described Mr Snowdon as a "good Labor man" and wished him the best with his retirement. "You're just like all Territorians,
you're Territory first," Mr Morrison told the veteran politician. "Your presence will be missed." Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner said it was time for
the "Man with the Mo to go". "The Territory will miss his service but it is beyond time for us to let him return to his family," Mr Gunner said. > "It's
going to leave a bloody big hat to fill for whoever comes > next." Mr Snowdon lives in Alice Springs with his partner Elizabeth Verstappen. They have four kids together — Frances,
Tom, Tessa and Jack. The next federal election will be held in 2022. Posted Thu 10 Dec 2020 at 5:57amThursday 10 Dec 2020 at 5:57amThu 10 Dec 2020 at 5:57am, updated Thu 10 Dec 2020 at
9:20amThursday 10 Dec 2020 at 9:20amThu 10 Dec 2020 at 9:20am Share options * Copy link * Facebook * X (formerly Twitter)