Long-serving Labor MP farewells parliament

Mr Snowdon was first elected in 1987 and - other than his 1996 defeat - has been re-elected 10 times over the past 35 years.

He is one of few current members to have worked in both the old and new parliament house buildings.

One of the greatest changes he says he has seen during his time in parliament has been the feminisation of the Labor caucus which now has nearly 50 per cent female MPs.

"The pathway to leadership is open to all women in our caucus. A few blokes have got to loosen the grip a bit but it will happen," he said.

Although he grew up in Canberra, Mr Snowdon has been a staunch advocate for Indigenous affairs and issues affecting the Northern Territory.

He said across the 194 polling booths in the territory he received 80 per cent of the votes at the last election.

"To advocate for First Australians was my most significant responsibility," he said.

"(But) so many remain marginalised and in poverty ... with scandalous levels of preventable disease, in my view largely driven by the institutionalised racism that has been so much a part of government since Federation."

Mr Snowdon called on the government to enact the recommendations of the Uluru Statement of the Heart, something Labor has committed to if elected.

"There is no excuse now, in 2022, for any government to walk away from a need for constitutional recognition and voice to parliament, truth telling and a process of treaty," he said.

Australian Associated Press