The Northern Territory has appointed an interim Indigenous treaty commissioner after Mick Dodson resigned amid abuse allegations.
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Wirdi man and barrister Tony McAvoy SC was sworn in as the NT's acting treaty commissioner on Wednesday.
He replaces Professor Dodson, who vacated the post in June after being accused of verbally abusing two women.
The NT cannot officially appoint a new commissioner because Prof Dodson was written into the NT's Treaty Commissioner Act that came into force in July 2020.
That will have to wait until March 3, 2022 when his tenure comes to an end, according to the legislation.
Attorney-General and Treaty Minister Selena Uibo says Mr McAvoy was very experienced and would help the NT government work towards delivering a treaty or treaties.
"We welcome the appointment of Mr McAvoy to this role and acknowledge the important and relevant service and work he has already carried out," she said.
Mr McAvoy is Australia's most senior Aboriginal barrister and was co-senior counsel assisting the royal commission into the protection and detention of territory children.
He has also worked with key Aboriginal organisations such as the Northern Australia Aboriginal Justice Agency and Northern Land Council.
Mr McAvoy recently advised community-led organisations and government on the historic NT Aboriginal Justice Agreement.
The NT government said Mr McAvoy has extensive experience providing legal and strategic advice to various jurisdictions on treaty matters, including Victoria and Queensland.
He also represented the South Australian Narungga people in their treaty negotiations, resulting in the Buthera Agreement in 2018.
The appointment starts on January 1 and is likely to last six months so Mr McAvoy can finalise the NT Treaty Commission's final report due in 2022.
Prof Dodson was pressured to step down in May after allegations surfaced that he verbally abused and threatened an Aboriginal woman in January at an football game in Darwin.
The 71-year-old was also alleged to have called a second woman offensive names during an angry exchange at a casino five months before he was appointed to the role.
Australian Associated Press
