Alison Anderson

Alison Anderson

Alison Nampitjinpa Anderson (born 1958) is an Australian politician. She is incumbent Minister for Aboriginal Advancement in the Northern Territory's Country Liberal Party Government. She is among Australia's most senior indigenous politicians, and has been a prominent indigenous activist, including as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) Central Zone Commissioner. She has been a member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly since 2005, representing the electorate of MacDonnell (later Namatjira).

Anderson entered the Northern Territory Assembly as a star candidates for the Australian Labor Party at the 2005 election. She was re-elected unopposed as the Member for MacDonnell in the August 2008 Territory election and with the subsequent return of the Henderson Labor Government was appointed to Cabinet. She held the positions of Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage; Minister for Parks and Wildlife; Minister for Arts and Museums; and Minister for Indigenous Policy.

She left the Cabinet and the Labor Party in 2009 after a dispute over indigenous housing, and sat as an independent for two years until she joined the opposition Country Liberal Party in 2011. She was elected as a Country Liberal Candidate at the 2012 election, and appointed to Terry Mills CLP Cabinet.

Anderson speaks six indigenous languages, Anmatyerre, Luritja, Pitjantjatjara, Warlpiri, Western Arrernte and Yankunytjatjara. She is also an accomplished artist.