Melbourne: Jinson Anto Charls, who hails from Kerala's Moonnilavu village, has been sworn in as a minister of the Northern Territory, days after his election to its Parliament. Nephew of Congress leader and Pathanamthitta MP Anto Antony, Jinson won the election to the Northern Territory with a thumping margin from the Sanderson constituency as a Liberal Party candidate.
Jinson, who migrated to Australia in 2011 to pursue a career in nursing, was active in student politics during his studies in Kerala. He was a member of the Kerala Students' Union, the students' wing of Congress. He was also involved in election campaign work for Anto Antony in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, the Deccan Herald newspaper reported.
The 37-year-old has served as a director with the Top End Mental Health in the Northern Territory and as an adjunct lecturer at Charles Darwin University. In addition to his professional achievements, Jinson has been a strong community advocate, currently serving as President of the Darwin Malayalee Association.
Jinson’s portfolios will include Disability, Multicultural Affairs, and Sport and Culture, further underscoring his commitment to serving the diverse needs of the Northern Territory’s population.
