Media release re: Controversial Remarks by Newly Announced Northern Territory Administrator

21 January 2026

The Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commission has reviewed the recent emergence of past social media posts attributed to Mr David Connolly, the newly announced Administrator of the Northern Territory. These posts have been widely reported as offensive and discriminatory, particularly towards First Nations people and gender diverse communities.

The Administrator’s position is intended to be a non-partisan, unifying role as the King’s representative in the Territory. Past remarks attributed to Mr Connolly in speeches and online posts, have understandably caused pain and concern among Territorians and community leaders.

Vilification Laws and Public Online Content

Under the Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Act 1992, racial vilification provisions apply to conduct that is published in a public forum, including online public domains such as social media platforms where content is accessible to the wider community.

Online posts that are inciting hatred, serious contempt, or severe ridicule against people on the basis of their race or ethnicity can meet the legal standards for vilification under Territory law. It is important to understand that:

• If a post or comment is publicly accessible, even if later deleted by the original poster, it can still be subject to scrutiny under the Act.
• A person’s claim that a post was “personal” does not automatically remove it from the scope of the law if it was accessible to the public.
• The fact that content was made years earlier does not negate its impact or its potential to cause harm if it contributed to negative stereotyping or discriminatory attitudes.

National reporting on this matter has noted that some posts by Mr Connolly, drawn from publicly visible social media accounts, contained remarks that were widely regarded as offensive to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and gender diverse communities.

The Commissioner also notes that Commissioner Anna Cody of the Australian Human Rights Commission has publicly emphasised that social media posts, even removed from platforms, can have lasting harmful impacts and can be subject to community standards and legal obligations when they enter the public domain.

Impact and Community Harm

Racist, discriminatory or divisive public commentary whether made in speeches or through online platforms can have real and lasting effects on individuals and communities. Such remarks can:

• Damage trust between government institutions and the communities they serve
• Reinforce harmful stereotypes about First Nations peoples and other historically marginalised groups
• Undermine efforts to build respectful, inclusive relationships across the Territory

Expressions by people in positions of public prominence carry social weight, and when they target groups based on race, ethnicity, gender identity or other protected attributes, they can contribute to an unsafe or unwelcoming environment for those communities.

Call for Leadership, Accountability

The Anti-Discrimination Commission calls on all leaders appointed to represent and serve the people of the Northern Territory to:

• Acknowledge the impact of discriminatory language, regardless of the intent claimed by the speaker
• Demonstrate accountability, including sincere engagement with those who have been hurt by past remarks
• Commit to upholding the Territory’s anti-discrimination laws in both word and practice

As the Chair of the Northern Land Council, Matthew Ryan, has publicly stated, the posts were described as “appalling” and the relationship between Mr Connolly and the Land Council as fractured. That relationship is foundational and must be repaired. Meaningful dialogue and genuine engagement are essential first steps toward rebuilding the trust required for an Administrator to fulfil both the constitutional and symbolic responsibilities of the role in a diverse community.

The Commission stands ready to support education, awareness and constructive engagement on issues of race, respect and inclusion, consistent with the objects of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1992.

Jeswynn Yogaratnam

NT Anti-Discrimination Commissioner