Aden Ridgeway
Encyclopedia
Aden Derek Ridgeway Australian politician, was a member of the Australian Senate
for New South Wales
, from 1999 to 2005, representing the Australian Democrats
. During his term he was the only Aboriginal member of the Australian Parliament
.
, as one of the Gumbaynggirr
people. After leaving school in Year 11, he worked as a boilermaker. He then became involved in the public service. In this role, he engaged in a number of careers, including being a park ranger and working in several New South Wales government departments.
In 1990, Ridgeway was elected onto the first ATSIC Sydney Regional Council, a position in which he served two terms of office. He joined the Australian Democrats in 1991. In 1995, he became the executive director of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council. He continued in this position until 2000.
and Ernie Bridge
.
Ridgeway has served on a number of parliamentary and senate committees. In March 2001, he addressed the United Nations
Special Session on Racism. He also attended the World Conference Against Racism in South Africa
in the same year.
In April 2001, Ridgeway was elected deputy leader of the Democrats, after Natasha Stott Despoja
toppled Meg Lees
in a leadership spill.
Ridgeway continued as deputy leader until August 2002, when along with fellow senators John Cherry, Lyn Allison
and Andrew Murray
, he succeeded in forcing Stott Despoja to resign. It was widely tipped that he would succeed her as leader. However, the media did not portray the spill kindly, labelling them the 'Gang of Four'.
Ridgeway was expected to be appointed interim leader however, in a surprise decision, the party's National Executive installed Brian Greig
as interim leader due to the role Ridgeway played in forcing the resignation of Stott Despoja. Ridgeway did not contest the subsequent leadership ballot, at which Andrew Bartlett
defeated Brian Greig. Ridgeway was technically leader between Natasha Stott Despoja's resignation and the appointment of Brian Greig as interim leader.
Ridgeway also stood down as deputy leader and was replaced by Lyn Allison.
Ridgeway did not contest the leadership and stood down as deputy leader as he felt the National Executive's decision not to appoint him as interim leader was a reflection on him in a leadership position.
He remained in the Senate, being particularly active on issues of indigenous affairs and reconciliation. He lost his seat in the 2004 election, along with Cherry, Lees (who had since left the party), and Greig. His term expired on 30 June 2005.
Message Stick program. He is also the inaugural chairman of Indigenous Tourism Australia.
Aden Ridgeway is also an Ambassador of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation.
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
for New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, from 1999 to 2005, representing the Australian Democrats
Australian Democrats
The Australian Democrats is an Australian political party espousing a socially liberal ideology. It was formed in 1977, by a merger of the Australia Party and the New LM, after principals of those minor parties secured the commitment of former Liberal minister Don Chipp, as a high profile leader...
. During his term he was the only Aboriginal member of the Australian Parliament
Parliament of Australia
The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Commonwealth Parliament or Federal Parliament, is the legislative branch of the government of Australia. It is bicameral, largely modelled in the Westminster tradition, but with some influences from the United States Congress...
.
Early history
Ridgeway was born in Macksville, New South WalesMacksville, New South Wales
Macksville is a small town on the Nambucca River in Nambucca Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It is halfway between Sydney and Brisbane.-Town information:...
, as one of the Gumbaynggirr
Gumbaynggirr
Gumbaynggir are an Australian Aboriginal group of the Coffs Harbour, New South Wales area. The Gumbaynggirr lands cover an area of the Mid North Coast from the Nambucca River to as far north as the Clarence River , west to Armidale and eastward to the Pacific coast, making the Gumbaynggirr tribe...
people. After leaving school in Year 11, he worked as a boilermaker. He then became involved in the public service. In this role, he engaged in a number of careers, including being a park ranger and working in several New South Wales government departments.
In 1990, Ridgeway was elected onto the first ATSIC Sydney Regional Council, a position in which he served two terms of office. He joined the Australian Democrats in 1991. In 1995, he became the executive director of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council. He continued in this position until 2000.
Political career
During 1997-98 Ridgeway served as the state policy convener for the New South Wales Branch of the Democrats. He was subsequently selected in the first position on the Democrats' Senate ticket at the 1998 election. This led to him becoming only the third Aboriginal member of an Australian parliament, after Neville BonnerNeville Bonner
Neville Thomas Bonner AO was an Australian politician, and the first indigenous Australian to become a member of the Parliament of Australia...
and Ernie Bridge
Ernie Bridge
Ernest Frances "Ernie" Bridge is an Australian politician and country music singer. He was a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1980 to 2001, representing the electorate of Kimberley, first as an Australian Labor Party representative and then as an independent MP...
.
Ridgeway has served on a number of parliamentary and senate committees. In March 2001, he addressed the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Special Session on Racism. He also attended the World Conference Against Racism in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in the same year.
In April 2001, Ridgeway was elected deputy leader of the Democrats, after Natasha Stott Despoja
Natasha Stott Despoja
Natasha Jessica Stott Despoja AM is an Australian former politician and former leader of the Australian Democrats. She was a Democrats senator for South Australia from 1995 to 2008...
toppled Meg Lees
Meg Lees
Meg Heather Lees was a member of the Australian Senate from 1990 to 2005, representing the state of South Australia. She represented the Australian Democrats from 1990 to 2002, and was an independent senator between 2002 and 2005, adopting the party designation Australian Progressive Alliance from...
in a leadership spill.
Ridgeway continued as deputy leader until August 2002, when along with fellow senators John Cherry, Lyn Allison
Lyn Allison
Lynette Fay "Lyn" Allison is an Australian politician. She was a member of the Australian Senate from 1996 to 2008, representing the state of Victoria. She was the last federal parliamentary leader of the Australian Democrats....
and Andrew Murray
Andrew Murray
Andrew or Andy Murray may refer to: * Andrew Murray, often spelt Andrew Moray, leader of the Scots during the Scottish Wars of Independence...
, he succeeded in forcing Stott Despoja to resign. It was widely tipped that he would succeed her as leader. However, the media did not portray the spill kindly, labelling them the 'Gang of Four'.
Ridgeway was expected to be appointed interim leader however, in a surprise decision, the party's National Executive installed Brian Greig
Brian Greig
Brian Andrew Greig OAM , Australian politician, was an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate from 1999 to 2005, representing the state of Western Australia....
as interim leader due to the role Ridgeway played in forcing the resignation of Stott Despoja. Ridgeway did not contest the subsequent leadership ballot, at which Andrew Bartlett
Andrew Bartlett
Andrew John Julian Bartlett is an Australian politician. He was formerly an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate from 1997 to 2008, representing the state of Queensland. He was the leader of the Democrats from 2002 to 2004, and deputy leader from 2004 to 2008.-Early life and...
defeated Brian Greig. Ridgeway was technically leader between Natasha Stott Despoja's resignation and the appointment of Brian Greig as interim leader.
Ridgeway also stood down as deputy leader and was replaced by Lyn Allison.
Ridgeway did not contest the leadership and stood down as deputy leader as he felt the National Executive's decision not to appoint him as interim leader was a reflection on him in a leadership position.
He remained in the Senate, being particularly active on issues of indigenous affairs and reconciliation. He lost his seat in the 2004 election, along with Cherry, Lees (who had since left the party), and Greig. His term expired on 30 June 2005.
Post-political career
In May 2006, Ridgeway was selected as the new host of ABC Television'sAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
Message Stick program. He is also the inaugural chairman of Indigenous Tourism Australia.
Aden Ridgeway is also an Ambassador of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation.