Electoral division of Arafura
Arafura is an electoral division of the Legislative Assembly in Australia's Northern Territory. It was first created in 1983, and takes its name from the Arafura Sea, which adjoins the electorate. The electorate is predominantly rural, encompassing 57,410 square kilometres (22,170 square miles) in western Arnhem Land and the Tiwi Islands, and including the towns of Oenpelli, Jabiru, Maningrida, Milikapiti and Nguiu. There were 5,183 people enrolled in the electorate as of August 2020.
Arafura Northern Territory—Legislative Assembly | |
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![]() Arafura in the Northern Territory | |
Territory | Northern Territory |
Created | 1983 |
MP | Lawrence Costa |
Party | Labor Party |
Namesake | Arafura Sea |
Electors | 5,183 (2020) |
Area | 57,410 km2 (22,166.1 sq mi) |
Demographic | Remote |
Background
Arafura was a safe seat for the Labor Party from its inception until 2012, when the seat was won by the Country Liberal Party in a 15 per cent swing. However, Labor regained it as part of its massive victory in 2016. The electorate has a particularly high indigenous population, which has been reflected in its having been represented by five consecutive indigenous MPs.
Members for Arafura
Member | Party | Term | |
---|---|---|---|
Bob Collins | Labor | 1983–1987 | |
Stan Tipiloura | Labor | 1987–1992 | |
Maurice Rioli | Labor | 1992–2001 | |
Marion Scrymgour | Labor | 2001–2009 | |
Independent | 2009 | ||
Labor | 2009–2012 | ||
Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu | Country Liberal | 2012–2014 | |
Independent | 2014 | ||
Palmer United | 2014 | ||
Country Liberal | 2014–2016 | ||
Lawrence Costa | Labor | 2016–present | |
Election results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labor | Lawrence Costa | 1,087 | 46.3 | +11.7 | |
Country Liberal | Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu | 903 | 38.4 | –5.5 | |
1 Territory | Jon Lotu | 284 | 12.1 | +12.1 | |
Independent | Tristan Mungatopi | 75 | 3.2 | +3.2 | |
Total formal votes | 2,349 | 98.6 | +3.1 | ||
Informal votes | 34 | 1.4 | −3.1 | ||
Turnout | 2,383 | 49.2 | −11.2 | ||
Two-party-preferred result | |||||
Labor | Lawrence Costa | 1,234 | 54.7 | +7.2 | |
Country Liberal | Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu | 1,020 | 45.3 | −7.2 | |
Labor gain from Country Liberal | Swing | +7.2 |
References
- Arafura – Electorate Summary, Northern Territory Electoral Commission, 9 September 2016