ɪn mˈɑːɹtʃ tˈuː θˈaʊzənd twˈɛlv, hiː ɛkspɹˈɛst ɐn ˈɪntɹɛst ɪn bᵻkˈʌmɪŋ lˈeɪbɚz fˈɜːst fˈɛdɚɹəl ˌæbɚɹˈɪdʒɪnəl mˈɛmbɚɹ ʌv fˈɛdɚɹəl pˈɑːɹləmənt, fˈɑːloʊɪŋ ðə ɹˌɛzɪɡnˈeɪʃən ʌv mˈɑːɹk ˈɑːɹbɪb fɹʌmðə sˈɛnət.
In March 2012, he expressed an interest in becoming Labor's first federal Aboriginal member of federal parliament, following the resignation of Mark Arbib from the Senate.