'The river is our mother': Meet the all-Indigenous political party sex to

Meet the Indigenous-Aboriginal Party of Australia. Here’s what they stand forBy the Indigenous affairs team's Brooke FryerTopic:Elections3h ago3 hours agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 6:37amOwen Whyman started the Indigenous-Aboriginal Party of Australia after concerns about fish kills in the Darling/Baaka River. (Supplied)abc.net.au/news/indigenous-aboriginal-party-of-australia/105226128Link copiedShareShare articleRunning for the Senate at just 20 years old is exactly where Laylah Al-Saimary once pictured herself."I was really quiet as a child, and I didn't speak my mind," she said."As I grew older, and I grew the confidence and a bit of rage as well, I kind of just started speaking out."Laylah Al-Saimary says young people need to be represented more now than ever. (Supplied)Stay updated:Federal election live updates: Get the latest news from the campaign trailCatch the latest interviews and in-depth coverage on ABC iview and ABC ListenThe Barkandji woman from the regional NSW town of Mungo left for the big city lights of Melbourne in March to study nursing.It's here that she is campaigning to make change for her community, and for younger generations."I've always loved politics … I've always just wanted to voice my opinion," she said.Laylah is a member of the Indigenous-Aboriginal Party of Australia (IAPA). Registered in 2021, it's the only all-Indigenous political party in Australia.If elected, Laylah wants to address drug and alcohol addiction in young people, climate change, affordable housing, education and to implement more mentorship programs to connect young people with positive role models.This federal election will be the first time Gen Zs and Millennials will outnumber Baby Boomers at the polls, making it important to have young people represented in government, said Laylah. Climate change is one of the issues Laylah wants to address this election. (ABC News: Tim Swanston)"Us young people, really we hold the future in our hands; we're going to shape the next generation," she said.Young people are more tapped into politics than ever before, and highly attuned to global affairs thanks to their mobile phones, according to Laylah.  "I think this generation has a really good idea … [and] can really see what's going on, like the climate change and all of that," she said.Laylah wants a seat at the table to help drive change for young people and her community. (Supplied)Laylah said Indigenous representation at all levels of government was key to "encouraging Indigenous mob to love themselves and respect themselves".In the shadow of the Voice referendum defeat, the two major parties have ruled out constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians in the next term of parliament.Labor is promising jobs and economic empowerment for Indigenous Australians while the Coalition said it would conduct an audit of "all government programs and expenditure" in Indigenous affairs.Read more about the federal election:How much Climate 200 has donated to 19 independentsCoalition tapping into community concerns about crime ahead of electionFind out how your views line up with the major parties with Vote CompassWant even more? Here's where you can find all our 2025 federal election coverageThe birth of Australia’s only all-Indigenous political party Growing up in the western NSW town of Wilcannia, Owen Whyman says the Darling/Baaka River was a huge part of his childhood, a place that holds fond memories."You were able to lean into the river and drink straight from the river, that's how good the water was … You wouldn't dare do that now," the Barkandji and Malyangapa man said."I've got many stories of going to the river with my grandmother. The biggest problem now is, are my kids going to have them stories?"Owen Whyman is a keen rugby league player in the Darling River town of Wilcannia. (ABC News: Declan Gooch)That same river has made headlines in recent years for a series of fish kills.Watching the slow degradation of the waterway, Owen felt like he had to do something.It's what fuelled his passion to start the Indigenous-Aboriginal Party of Australia."Our beloved Baaka river system, that's the reason why this party got created," he said."For us to be able to keep our stories alive and to tell them we need that water flowing to keep our dream alive, that culture alive. The river is our mother, we have to protect that."It's about protection of all rivers, creeks, billabongs, gorgeous natural springs right across Australia." The fish kills in the Darling/Baaka River motivated Owen Whyman to get into politics. (Supplied: Rob Greggory)What is the IAPA?Today, the Indigenous-Aboriginal party says it has close to 8,000 members from all corners of Australia, growing from 2,050 members when it was first registered with the AEC four years ago."This is our second time round in the elections, so you know, I'm very proud of the party and where it is now," said Owen.The IAPA says it has grown from around 2,000 members to about 8,000 members since its formation in 2021.  (Supplied)Along with protecting the waterways, priority areas for the IAPA include reducing the rates of Indigenous incarceration and of First Nations children in out-of-home care, and better housing and education.These are issues Owen is passionate about. He experienced many of them firsthand growing up."I've been living in that situation as a young man growing up, struggling with housing and poor living conditions … Jobs were hard to come by and education was another thing," he said."I chose to turn my life around to help others and to try and get a voice out there for our people to deal with these issues," he said.This federal election there are 40 Senate seats to be filled. The IAPA has nine candidates vying for those seats across NSW, VIC, QLD, NT and WA.Their preferences vary across the states and territories — mostly flowing to a host of left-wing minor parties and the Greens. For many, the major parties don't rate a mention.In the Northern Territory, Labor's Marion Scrymgour is ranked second on their how-to-vote cards.In Western Australia, the Liberal Party is placed second to last, followed only by Trumpet of Patriots.The IAPA says one of its main priorities is to address the high rates of Indigenous children in out-of-home care. (ABC News: Shaun Kingma)After the referendum result shuttered the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, Owen believes a party like theirs is an opportunity for representation at the decision-making table."It's about getting the word out there that there is a party, and how we want to be a voice in parliament, not a voice to parliament," he said."I think it's overdue … Let us get in there and try and fix things for our people."Facing issues head onRunning on the IAPA ticket in Queensland is Kooma man and longtime Indigenous rights activist Wayne 'Coco' Wharton, who joined the party earlier this year.Wayne's driving inspiration for getting into politics was to improve the quality of life for First Nations people, particularly those living in the Torres Strait.Wayne Wharton has been a prominent Indigenous activist over the years, now hoping to take his voice to the parliament. (Supplied)"The climate change and housing and employment is a real big factor in the Straits. And particularly health," he said."These people are dying because they don't have simple access to dialysis machines, and in 2025 that's ridiculous."Wayne believes independent and minor parties are the way forward."The two-party preferred is a system that creates monopoly and creates a situation of distraction and deferment," he said."So we really have to make the playing field level and accountable, by having more independents and smaller parties represented."If elected to the Senate, Wayne promises one thing."My priorities are to listen to the people on the ground and try and do as best I can for them," he said."If you know you can actually do something and make a difference, you should do it."LoadingLoading...Having trouble seeing this form? Try this link.Posted 3h ago3 hours agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 6:37amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesIt's the energy election everywhere, but nowhere quite like the HunterTopic:Federal GovernmentPhoto shows Fingal BayPeter Dutton turns to culture wars, PM gets defensive on credit ratingSAnalysis by Stephanie DalzellPhoto shows Anthony Albanese WAOfficer who shot Bondi Junction stabber thought she was 'probably going to die'Topic:CrimePhoto shows A young woman wearing a grey suit with a white undershirt stands outside court with sunglassesCarney claims Canada victory, warning 'old relationship with US is over'Topic:World PoliticsPhoto shows Mark Carney smiles on the stage and is about to give a speechCalls for clarity over fringe Christian sect backing Coalition campaignTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows sign Related storiesNew Indigenous political party launches ahead of federal election Topic:Indigenous AustraliansPhoto shows An Aboriginal flag in the foreground, Parliament House in the backgroundFish kills occurring in waterways from Ballina to Crescent HeadTopic:FishPhoto shows Dead fish washed up on the banks of the Richmond River at Ballina.Related topicsAustralian Federal ElectionsElectionsIndigenous AustraliansIndigenous PolicyTop StoriesIt's the energy election everywhere, but nowhere quite like the HunterTopic:Federal GovernmentPhoto shows Fingal BayPeter Dutton turns to culture wars, PM gets defensive on credit ratingSAnalysis by Stephanie DalzellOfficer who shot Bondi Junction stabber thought she was 'probably going to die'Topic:CrimeCarney claims Canada victory, warning 'old relationship with US is over'Topic:World PoliticsCalls for clarity over fringe Christian sect backing Coalition campaignTopic:ElectionsJust InCouncil Watch head hit with interim court order over alleged harassment of mayorTopic:Courts58m ago58 minutes agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 9:04amMum was allegedly tricked into sending money to man charged with daughter's murderTopic:Courts1h ago1 hours agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 8:49amCurtis fails to overturn three-game dangerous tackle banTopic:AFL1h ago1 hours agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 8:27amCalls for clarity over fringe Christian sect backing Coalition campaignTopic:Elections2h ago2 hours agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 7:34amMore Just InBack to top