Aboriginal community inspired by Obama's victory

Jarred Roberts, 15, from Ballina is inspired to become Australia's first Aboriginal prime minister following Barack Obama's win as the US President.

The Northern Star/Cathy Adams

MOVE over Kevin Rudd, 15-year-old Jarred Roberts, of Ballina, says he would like to one day be Australia's first Aboriginal prime minister.

Jarred said yesterday he and his friends felt inspired by Barack Obama's election victory to become the United States' first African-American president.

“I was thinking I could run for prime minister,” Jarred said.

“I thought, 'if he can do it, so can I'.”

Jarred said while he would like to become PM, so he could help his community, he would like to become a PE teacher first.

“With the support of my community I can achieve anything,” Jarred said.

Koori Mail Editor in Lismore Kirstie Parker said she believed an Aboriginal person would become PM within her lifetime.

“It would be incredible to have a first Australian as prime minister,” she said.

Ms Parker said there were some incredible young Aboriginal people in the community.

“You hear about young people doing something exceptional all the time,” she said.

“Aboriginal people are thrilled about Obama's win.”

NSW Community Services Minister Linda Burney, who is of the Wiradjuri Aboriginal people in southern NSW, agreed the Australian Aboriginal community was ecstatic about Barack Obama's win.

“It meant a lot to Aboriginal people,” she said. “The world changed on Wednesday.”

Ms Burney said the win opened up new possibilities for Aboriginal leadership. However, an Aboriginal PM was still a long way off.

She said it was 'shameful' there was no Aboriginal representation in Federal Parliament.

Ms Burney said it was up to the big parties to identify and mentor Aboriginal people for political office.