Fed up with what he sees as a lack of proper representation from the major parties, Borroloola Aboriginal elder and artist Jack Green will run as an independent for the seat of Barkly at the upcoming Northern Territory election.
A Garawa elder from the southwest Gulf of Carpentaria, Mr Green is a long-time environmental activist who set up the region's first Aboriginal ranger program.
His community is located near the troubled MacArthur River Mine, and he says he would extend NT Labor's proposed moratorium on fracking to an outright ban.
"I think they should close fracking off altogether; it affects the whole community, it doesn't matter what colour you are, black or white," he told reporters on Thursday.
Mainstream politicians have not been listening to the people of Borroloola and they have had enough, he said.
"They're not getting what they wanted.
"Aboriginal people always feel no good inside with what happened but they just have to go along with what government put in front of them."
He supports the Country Liberals' philosophy of promoting remote economic development, and wants to see travelling health workers to treat people on homelands, since many cannot travel to town hubs to access services.
"When you have people dragging us back from the bush back into the town, it create too many problems with drugs and (alcohol)," Mr Green said.
He supports agricultural, pastoral and tourism development driven by local people.
Mr Green is well-known in the Barkly region in the central NT, which covers the town centres of Tennant Creek, Elliot, Borroloola, and Robinson River.
He does not read or write, but said if elected he would have staffers on hand to help him review legislation.
The election will be held on August 27.
