Celeste Liddle
{{Short description|Australian unionist and writer (born 1978)}}
{{distinguish|Catherine Liddle}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Celeste Liddle
| image = Celeste Liddle 2022.jpg
| caption = Liddle at a Melbourne rally in February 2022
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1978}}
| birth_place = Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| occupation = Writer and unionist
| death_date =
| other_names =
| parents =
| party = Greens (2021-2023)
| children =
| alma_mater = La Trobe University
University of Melbourne
Monash University
| website = {{URL|http://blackfeministranter.blogspot.com/|Rantings of an Aboriginal Feminist}}
}}
Celeste Liddle (born 1978) is an Aboriginal Australian unionist, writer, and Indigenous feminist of the Arrernte people of Central Australia. Having first risen to prominence via her personal blog, Rantings of an Aboriginal Feminist, Liddle has written opinion and commentary for several media publications and anthologies.
Early life and education
Liddle was born in Canberra, Australia, in 1978. She moved to Melbourne with her family in 1992,{{cite web | title=About Celeste Liddle | website=Rantings of an Aboriginal Feminist | url=http://blackfeministranter.blogspot.com/p/about-black-feminist-ranter.html | access-date=10 August 2024}} when she was 14.{{citation|url=https://www.nteu.org.au/atsi/unit/celeste_liddle|title=Celeste Liddle, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Organiser|website=National Tertiary Education Union|archive-date=20 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820210201/http://www.nteu.org.au/atsi/unit/celeste_liddle|url-status=live|access-date=18 January 2017}} Her paternal grandmother Emily Liddle ({{nee|Perkins}}) was a member of the Stolen Generations and lived at Jay Creek settlement for a period.{{cite news|url=https://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article/aboriginal-workers-still-slipping-through-the-gaps|title=Aboriginal workers still slipping through the gaps|first=Celeste|last=Liddle|date=2 December 2016|access-date=20 October 2024|publisher=Eureka Street}} Her paternal grandfather was Harold Liddle, an Arrernte man, and veteran from World War II.{{cite news|url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/04/29/neo-nazi-dawn-service-welcomes-to-country-peter-dutton-election-2025/|title=My grandfather fought to protect this country too. Where’s his respect?|first=Celeste|last=Liddle|date=29 April 2025|access-date=29 April 2025|publisher=Crikey}} On her non-Indigenous maternal side, she has English, Irish, and Dutch Burgher heritage, and is a descendant of Sacramento shipwreck survivors, as well as of Dutch revolutionary Quint Ondaatje.{{citation |url=https://junkee.com/articles/invasion-day-australian-legacy|title=How Do We Confront Our "Australian" Legacy?|first=Celeste|last=Liddle|date=22 January 2025|accessdate=22 January 2025|publisher=Junkee}}
She has an honours degree in arts from La Trobe University, a graduate diploma from the University of Melbourne and a masters in communications and media studies from Monash University.{{citation |url=http://www.bendigowritersfestival.com.au/celeste-liddle/ |title=Celeste Liddle |website= Bendigo Writers Festival |archive-date=28 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628051953/http://www.bendigowritersfestival.com.au/celeste-liddle/ |access-date=18 January 2017 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}
In 2020, Liddle undertook a master's degree at Monash.{{cite web |last1=Liddle |first1=Celeste |title=Higher education should be for everyone |url=https://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article/higher-education-should-be-for-everyone |website=Eureka Street |date=29 October 2020 |access-date=18 January 2021 |archive-date=15 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115031824/https://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article/higher-education-should-be-for-everyone |url-status=live }} and in 2021 was awarded the Academic Medal for Excellence.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/utopiana/status/1382169992301481988|title=I'd just like to inform the person who hides behind the @IndigenousUoM account, and who tried to make out that I was stupid a few weeks back only to have it backfire spectacularly, that I have just found out I have been awarded the Academic Medal for Excellence by Monash🖕🏾 |access-date=2021-05-13|website=Twitter|language=en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414031307/https://twitter.com/utopiana/status/1382169992301481988 |archive-date=2021-04-14}}
Career
=Writing and broadcasting=
Liddle hosted the IndigenousX program from 19 June 2015.{{citation|url=http://indigenousx.com.au/five-questions-with-celeste-liddle/|title=Five Questions with Celeste Liddle|access-date=18 January 2017|archive-date=20 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820100624/http://indigenousx.com.au/five-questions-with-celeste-liddle/#.WH8Z7FN96Uk|date=2015|url-status=live|website=IndigenousX}}
She has been a regular columnist for Eureka Street since 2017, having written her first opinion piece for them two years earlier. She has also been a columnist and featured writer for Daily Life,{{Cite news |url=https://www.theage.com.au/by/celeste-liddle-hvepm |title=Celeste Liddle |website=The Age |access-date=11 January 2020 |archive-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809003951/https://www.theage.com.au/by/celeste-liddle-hvepm |url-status=live }} The Saturday Paper,{{Cite web|date=2021-05-07|title=Celeste Liddle|url=https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/contributor/celeste-liddle|access-date=2021-05-13|website=The Saturday Paper|language=en|archive-date=13 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513124651/https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/contributor/celeste-liddle|url-status=live}} and The Guardian.{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/profile/celeste-liddle |title=Celeste Liddle |website=The Guardian |access-date=18 January 2017 |archive-date=18 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118232546/https://www.theguardian.com/profile/celeste-liddle |url-status=live }} She has also provided commentary for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Special Broadcasting Service (SBS).{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}
In addition to opinion writing, Liddle has been published in a number of anthologies, including Black Inc's Growing Up Aboriginal In Australia,{{Cite book|url = https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/growing-aboriginal-australia|title = Growing up Aboriginal in Australia by Anita Heiss|date = 6 November 2017|access-date = 15 June 2021|archive-date = 13 January 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200113083706/https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/growing-aboriginal-australia|url-status = live}} Pan McMillan's "Mothers and Others" and Hardie Grant's "Better than Sex".{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}
She has been involved in several major literary events, including the All About Women Festival,{{Cite web |url=https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/events/past-events/all-about-women/2020/blak-matriarchies.html#bio |title=Blak Matriarchies |website=Sydney Opera House |year=2020 |access-date=11 January 2020 |archive-date=20 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120083943/https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/events/past-events/all-about-women/2020/blak-matriarchies.html#bio |url-status=live }} Melbourne Writers Festival,{{Cite web |url=https://www.liminalmag.com/blog/mwf2017 |title=EVENT - Melbourne Writer's Festival |website=liminalmag.com |date=11 August 2017 |access-date=11 January 2020 |archive-date=19 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319130059/https://www.liminalmag.com/blog/mwf2017 |url-status=live }} the Antidote Festival,{{Cite web |url=https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/content/soh/events/whats-on/ideas-and-talks/2017/antidote0.html |title=Antidote |website=Sydney Opera House |date=2 September 2017 |access-date=11 January 2020 |archive-date=12 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112125449/https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/content/soh/events/whats-on/ideas-and-talks/2017/antidote0.html |url-status=live }} The Melbourne Anarchist Bookfair{{cite web | url=https://progressivepodcastaustralia.com/2015/08/ | title=August 2015 | access-date=16 May 2022 | archive-date=29 June 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629152722/https://progressivepodcastaustralia.com/2015/08/ | url-status=live }} and the Bendigo Writers' Festival.{{cite web | url=https://issuu.com/cvebendigo/docs/2023_bwf_program_clickable_links | title=2023 Bendigo Writers Festival by Bendigo Venues and Events - Issuu | date=7 March 2023 | access-date=26 September 2023 | archive-date=26 September 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926034231/https://issuu.com/cvebendigo/docs/2023_bwf_program_clickable_links | url-status=live }}{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}
=Activism and unionism=
{{as of |2023}}, Liddle works as National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Organiser for the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU).{{cite web | title=Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander | website=NTEU | date=6 October 2022 | url=https://www.nteu.au/NTEU/Key_Issues/Aboriginal_Torres_Strait_Islander.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803080939/https://www.nteu.au/NTEU/Key_Issues/Aboriginal_Torres_Strait_Islander.aspx | archive-date=3 August 2023 | url-status=unfit | access-date=3 September 2023}} She was instrumental in ensuring that the NTEU vocally supported the campaign to raise the age of criminal responsibility in Australia.{{Cite web |title=NTEU National Executive passes motion in support of raising the age of criminal responsibility|url=https://www.nteu.org.au/article/NTEU-National-Executive-passes-motion-in-support-of-raising-the-age-of-criminal-responsibility-22611|access-date=2021-05-13 |website=NTEU| archive-date=13 May 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513124652/https://www.nteu.org.au/article/NTEU-National-Executive-passes-motion-in-support-of-raising-the-age-of-criminal-responsibility-22611|url-status=dead}}
= Politics =
In May 2021, Liddle was preselected by the Victorian Greens for the seat of Cooper in the 2022 federal election.{{Cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/indigenous-activist-to-run-for-greens-in-inner-melbourne-seat-of-cooper-20210514-p57rx3.html |title=Indigenous activist to run for Greens in Ged Kearney's inner-Melbourne seat |website=Sydney Morning Herald |year=2021 |access-date=14 May 2021 |archive-date=14 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514021517/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/indigenous-activist-to-run-for-greens-in-inner-melbourne-seat-of-cooper-20210514-p57rx3.html |url-status=live }} Cooper is the Melbourne electorate where she has lived for over 20 years. Her campaign set out to include dental into Medicare, enhance workers' rights, increase renewable energy in response to the climate emergency, and work towards truth and treaty for First Nations people. Liddle was also a strong advocate for the Greens policy to tax billionaires and for Melbourne's live music and arts scenes.{{Cite web |url= https://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article/missing-melbourne-s-music-scene|title=Missing Melbourne's music scene|date=3 May 2020 |access-date= 16 June 2021|archive-date=31 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531015407/https://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article/missing-melbourne-s-music-scene|url-status=live}}
In the 2022 election, Liddle received 27.7% of the primary vote, coming second to the incumbent Labor member Ged Kearney. Liddle increased the Greens primary vote by 6.43% while Labor's decreased by 5.5% on the previous election.{{Cite web |title=Cooper (Key Seat) - Federal Electorate, Candidates, Results |url=https://abc.net.au/news/elections/federal/2022/guide/coop |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=abc.net.au |language=en-AU |archive-date=23 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523081307/https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/federal/2022/guide/coop |url-status=live }}
Liddle left the Greens in February 2023.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jun/26/i-remain-undecided-on-the-indigenous-voice-to-parliament-and-im-exhausted |title=I remain undecided on the Indigenous voice to parliament. And I'm exhausted |first=Celeste |last=Liddle |work=The Guardian |date=26 June 2023 |access-date=27 June 2023 |archive-date=26 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626223634/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jun/26/i-remain-undecided-on-the-indigenous-voice-to-parliament-and-im-exhausted |url-status=live }}
Recognition
In 2017, Liddle was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women.{{Cite web |url=http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/womens-honour-roll-receives-25-new-inductees/ |title=Women's Honour Roll Receives 25 New Inductees |publisher=Premier of Victoria |website=Victorian Premier |date=6 March 2017 |access-date=11 January 2020 |archive-date=17 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817121505/http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/womens-honour-roll-receives-25-new-inductees/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web | title=NTEU congratulates Celeste Liddle | website=NTEU | date=7 March 2017 | url=https://www.nteu.org.au/jcu/article/NTEU-congratulates-Celeste-Liddle-19398 | access-date=3 September 2023}}
Personal life
{{As of|2024}}, Liddle is in a relationship with schoolteacher Tara Burnett, who succeeded her as the Greens candidate in Cooper for the 2025 federal election.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/oct/20/i-want-to-make-history-the-relief-teacher-targeting-a-labor-stronghold-to-become-australias-first-trans-mp|title=
'I want to make history': the relief teacher targeting a Labor stronghold to become Australia's first trans MP|publisher=Guardian Australia|access-date=20 October 2024|date=20 October 2024|first=Cait|last=Kelly}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://blackfeministranter.blogspot.com/|Rantings of an Aboriginal feminist}} (blog)
{{Feminism}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Liddle, Celeste}}
Category:Indigenous Australian writers
Category:Australian feminist writers
Category:Australian socialists
Category:Indigenous Australian feminists
Category:Australian indigenous rights activists
Category:Australian women human rights activists
Category:University of Melbourne alumni
Category:La Trobe University alumni