A member of the Wiradjuri Nation, Linda Burney is a natural leader. Last updated September 23, 2019 • 5 min read From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia Linda Jen Burney (born 25 April 1957) is an Australian politician, member of the House of Representatives and the Shadow Minister for Families and Social Services and for Preventing Family Violence. Born in 1957, Linda was one of the first Aboriginal students to graduate from Mitchell College, now known as Charles Sturt University, with a teaching degree in 1978. Linda Jean Burney (born 25 April 1957) is an Australian politician, who was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Canterbury for the Australian Labour Party from 2003 to 2016, when she resigned to contest the federal seat of Barton. Linda Burney. Linda Burney was born in 1957 in the small town of Whitton in the Riverina. Born in the small country town of Whitton, in New South Wales, Burney was raised by her non-Indigenous great aunt and uncle. She was born on April 25, 1957 (63 years old) in Whitton. Burney has said if it wasn’t for these caring relatives, she would have been placed in institutional care. Linda Burney is a New South Wales politician. Separated from her mother as a baby, she was raised by her loving non Indigenous great aunt and uncle.