Federal MP Linda Burney has announced she will take a leave from Parliament, following the death of her son Binni Kirkbright-Burney.
Kirkbright-Burney, 33, was found dead at the family home in Sydney last night. In a statement, Burney said NSW Police do not believe the circumstances of his death to be suspicious.
Burney said “he has struggled with mental health and with addiction. He tried so hard to conquer his demons, as I and my family have tried so hard to support him in every way we could.”
“I don’t want to pre-empt a subsequent inquiry but we all thought we were getting somewhere. I don’t know what life will be like without him.”
https://twitter.com/janeenorman/status/922927307626463232
In the 2016 Federal Election, Burney became the first Indigenous woman to serve in the House of Representatives.
In her moving first speech before the lower house, the ALP member for Barton said “to my children, Binni and Willuari: my pride and love for you is more than all the stars in the sky.”
If you or someone you know is dealing with a mental illness, call BeyondBlue on 1300 22 4636. If you are in distress, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
