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 156,087 square kilometres (60,266 square miles) in western Arnhem Land and the Tiwi Islands, and including the towns of Oenpelli, Jabiru, Maningrida, Milikapiti and Nguiu. There were 5,477 people enrolled in the electorate as of August 2012.

Arafura
Northern Territory—Legislative Assembly
Arafura in the Northern Territory
TerritoryNorthern Territory
Created1983
MPLawrence Costa
PartyLabor Party
NamesakeArafura Sea
Electors4,848 (2016)
Area156,087 km2 (60,265.5 sq mi)
DemographicRemote

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
MemberPartyTerm
  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
See also: Electoral results for the division of Arafura
2016 Northern Territory general election: Arafura[1]
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
  1. Arafura – Electorate Summary, Northern Territory Electoral Commission, 9 September 2016

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