Jinson Anto Charls, a native of Kerala, has made history by being appointed as the new minister for disability, arts, veterans, and multicultural affairs in Australia’s Northern Territory. His appointment follows a remarkable electoral victory where he defeated a sitting Labour minister, contributing to the Country Liberal Party’s (CLP) significant win in the August 24 elections, where they claimed 17 out of 25 seats in the Legislative Assembly.
Charls, who migrated to Australia in 2011, has a background in nursing and has held various leadership roles in health services, including serving as the Director of Acute Services at Top End Mental Health. His election marks a significant increase in the representation of South Asian and South-East Asian heritage in the NT parliament, alongside fellow India-born politicians Khoda Patel and Tanzil Rahman.
Expressing his gratitude for the community support that facilitated his electoral success, Charls highlighted the importance of his journey as a first-generation migrant. He is married to Anu and has two daughters, Aimie and Anna. His election is a landmark achievement for the Indian diaspora in Australia, reflecting the growing influence of migrants in local governance.
