Mutthi Mutthi and Wamba Wamba woman Jana Stewart has been confirmed as the replacement for late Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching, which will likely see her become Labor’s first Victorian Aboriginal senator.
Stewart was confirmed as Kitching’s replacement in a joint sitting of Victorian parliament last night, where the chamber erupted into applause following her appointment.
The former bureaucrat ran against federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg in his Melbourne seat of Kooyong in 2019, and previously worked as the deputy secretary of Victoria’s Department of Justice.
Taking to Twitter, the 34-year old mother of one said “I’m humbled to be replacing the late Kimberly Kitching; a tireless advocate for working people.”
Stewart will fill a casual vacancy left by Kitching after Kitching’s shocking and sudden death from a suspected heart attack last month.
Speaking to the Herald this morning, Stewart said she “…wants to be responsible for helping increase the number of Aboriginal people in the party, [including] people from minority and diversity groups.”
“The opportunity comes under really sad circumstances with the passing of Senator Kitching, so that was certainly not lost on me,” she said.
“One of the things that everybody can agree on is how important it is to have Aboriginal people step into positions like this. So I think it’s something we can all unite over – it’s a history-making opportunity that I think everyone can be proud of.”
Stewart’s term will expire on 30 June. Since the Senate will not sit before the next election, Stewart will not be sworn in and officially take her seat in parliament.
In the result that Labor attracts enough of Victoria’s Senate vote, she will enter parliament after the election.
In an article published in 2019, Steward described her childhood as one where family violence and drug addiction was prevalent.
“As the eldest of six, I was the protector of my siblings,” she wrote. “I was the one who stepped into the middle of fights trying to stop them.”
“Because, despite my life experiences and the statistics, I consider myself to be a fortunate person. My defining moment was actively deciding not to become the statistics I was supposed to be.”
“I’ve worked hard and built a life out of listening and empowering other people’s voices. Now I want to do that for the people of Kooyong.”
Stewart has been mentored by Linda Burney, and was formerly endorsed by Emily’s List.