Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarandirri McCarthy and two Members of Federal Parliament have labelled incoming NT Administrator David Connolly’s social media comments “reprehensible and offensive” and called for a public apology, while a national media outlet has reported further racially-charged commentary from Mr Connolly in which he said Aboriginal Territorians “are the product of failed policy and a soft on crime attitude” during a speech to cattle producers in 2024.

The Guardian’s report also raises questions about the sincerity of Mr Connolly’s statement on Monday, in which he claimed he held no “intention to cause offence” with his social media comments, despite saying in the same 2024 speech that he doesn’t “offer offence, but you are free to take it”.

Mr Connolly, who is the former president of the NT Cattlemen’s Association and will be sworn in as NT Administrator next month, has come under fire for now-deleted social media posts and comments between 2020 and 2024, reflecting his negative views on Aboriginal people and culture, attacks on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, as well as his disparaging views on transgender people and female athletes.

The Administrator role is to be politically neutral and aside from statutory responsibilities including signing legislation, is also responsible for promoting “community cohesion”, with the Administrator “seen as a symbol of unity, who represents all Territorians”.

Minister McCarthy issued a joint statement on Tuesday with Federal Labor MPs Luke Gosling and Marion Scrymgour calling for Mr Connolly to apologise.

“Previous social media comments by Mr Connolly are reprehensible and offensive and he should apologise,” the statement said.

“The NT Administrator plays an important role in the functioning of our democracy. More than that, they should stand as a unifying figure above party politics and represent all Territorians.

“The choice of Administrator has always been a matter for the NT Government.”

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro backed Mr Connolly on Friday morning after claiming she had not seen his social media posts. She has continued to remain silent after the NT Independent sent a selection of his tweets to her office on Friday. The NT News reported it sent her the offensive tweets early last week, before her claims of not seeing them on Friday.

Ms Finocchiaro again declined to comment on Tuesday about when she first saw the social media comments or if she agrees with his comments on Aboriginal Territorians.

Mr Connolly issued a statement through the Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet on Monday, but stopped short of offering an apology for his comments, that the Northern Land Council has called “racist and hurtful”.

Mr Connolly claimed in the statement that his “former social media posts are exactly that and were done at a time when having the honour and privilege of being the Administrator was not even in my wildest dreams”.

“It was never my intention to cause offence; I fully understand and appreciate the expectations of the community and my role as Administrator,” he said.

“I have always been a fierce advocate for the bush and will now be a fierce advocate for all Territorians.”

During a speech at the NT Cattlemen’s Association conference in 2024, Mr Connolly criticised “leftwing” activists, environmentalists, the Voice referendum and the Territory’s moves to establish a treaty.

He also took aim at a comment by former chief minister Eva Lawler about crime issues in the NT being connected to Australia’s colonial history during the speech.

“Hang on a minute – let’s speak honestly about this for once,” he reportedly said.

“The main group of people perpetrating these criminal actions have been in Australia for 60,000 years. The English didn’t send them here. They are the product of failed policy and a soft on crime attitude.”

‘We can see his true colours’: NLC chair calls for neutral Administrator who ‘is willing to work with Indigenous people’

NLC chair Matthew Ryan told the ABC on Monday that Mr Connolly’s posts about Indigenous people were “appalling, racist and hurtful” and that the relationship between Mr Connolly and the NLC was broken.

“As an Indigenous person, it’s hurtful, and we want an Administrator who is neutral, who is willing to work with Indigenous people right across the Territory,” Mr Ryan told the ABC.

“No one should be appointed if racist remarks are made, targeted at the Indigenous people right across the Territory, or anyone for that matter, right across Australia.

“We can see his true colours, his intentions to try and undermine Indigenous people’s decision making. I can tell you now, I’m not going to talk to him if he gets appointed.”

Mr Ryan called for the Federal Government to rescind its approval of Mr Connolly’s appointment.

Mr Albanese’s office has not responded to questions over how it approved Mr Connolly’s appointment.

Mr Connolly’s posts on social media platform X mocked Welcome to Country ceremonies, belittled Indigenous cultural practices, made fun of Aboriginal dialects and repeatedly argued that Indigenous Territorians were unfairly benefitting from social programs and railed against perceived inequality for non-Indigenous people. He also joked in one post that he was “Indigenous to Australia” based on a definition of the word.

In another post from just last year reported on Tuesday, Mr Connolly shared Liberal party federal election campaign material.

He also compared Mr Albanese to a whale’s “anus” and called him a “boofhead” and a liar, while suggesting in a 2023 speech that the Prime Minister’s attempt to pass the Voice referendum was “arrogant, ignorant, threatening and so wrong”.

In other posts he joked about domestic violence, suggested he was “really looking forward” to watching beach volleyball after posting a picture of female players hugging, and made various other posts about transgender people and “white privilege”.

Centre for Public Integrity director Geoffrey Watson told the ABC that while everyone is entitled to free speech, Mr Connolly’s comments may have crossed a line and that the government should “rethink” his appointment to “such an important role”.

Mr Connolly did not respond to questions on Tuesday.