Malarndirri Barbara Anne McCarthy (born 1970) is an Indigenous Australian politician and former journalist who has been a Senator for the Northern Territory since 2016.

After working for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as a reporter and newsreader for 16 years, in 2005, McCarthy was elected to the NT Legislative Assembly for the division of Arnhem.

She embraces her Aboriginal identity, being descended through her mother from the Garrwa and Yanyuwa peoples, whose traditional lands straddle the McArthur River and the Gulf of Carpentaria.

[5] McCarthy was raised mainly by her father, but was always encouraged to stay connected to her Aboriginal culture; she later said she was brought up on two-way learning, although it was not so named at the time.

[10] As a result of her election, McCarthy became one of ten women in the 25-seat assembly, considered at the time to be in the top 10 in the world in male-to-female ratio in a parliament.

Her first term was highlighted by crossing the floor with two other ALP members to vote against the government's decision to divert the McArthur River to allow more mining developments on spiritual, cultural, and environmental grounds in her Country, of Borroloola.

[15] She called for a public inquiry into the NT's child protection system,[13] and drove reform in this area as well as the homelands policy.

At the 2012 election, McCarthy was defeated by Country Liberal Party challenger Larisa Lee amid Labor's collapse in the remote portions of the Territory.

[16][17] In 2013, McCarthy write a story on Mercedes-Benz, which filmed its advertisement at Wave Rock in Western Australia, a place of deep cultural significance to Aboriginal custodians.

[20] Following the resignation of Nova Peris, McCarthy was invited by Labor to nominate as a candidate for the Senate at the 2016 federal election, representing the Northern Territory,[21] including Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

[23] McCarthy went on to win a Senate seat at the 2 July 2016 federal election, bringing a much higher primary vote and a swing of nearly 7 points to the Australian Labor Party.

[8] She has opposed the permanent introduction of the cashless debit card to the NT, and believes that the territory needs a remote program that creates jobs with proper wages and conditions.

[27] She has maintained a focus on Indigenous health, including the high incidence of kidney disease among Aboriginal Australians, especially in the NT.

[29][30][31] McCarthy has been very active in parliamentary committees,[2] including: In the July 2024 reshuffle, she was appointed Minister for Indigenous Australians and elevated to cabinet.

[36] During her time working as a journalist for SBS and NITV, McCarthy also worked part-time at her sons' school Saint Ignatius' College at Riverview, New South Wales, assisting in developing the First Nations Unit program and teaching a cross-cultural program at the Catholic school, including teaching year 7 students about Indigenous landcare.

[22] She has participated in the Community Development Fund run by the Arts Council, and was a patron for SIDS & Kids NT for 12 years.