Tiwi Islands - Politics and Administration

Politics and Administration

The Tiwi Islands are part of the federal electorate of Lingiari, for which the current member is Warren Snowdon. The islands are within the Northern Territory electorate of Arafura. The current member for Arafura is Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu.

The administration of the islands is divided between the local Tiwi Islands Shire Council, and the Indigenous landholder representative organisation, the Tiwi Land Council. Representatives on the Shire Council are elected from four wards, and include 11 councillors;

1. Milikapiti Ward (northeast Melville Island, largest)
2. Nguiu Ward (south Bathurst Island, Buchanan Island)
3. Pirlangimpi Ward (west and southwest Melville Island)
4. Wurankuwu Ward (north Bathurst Island)

In 2011–12, the operating budget of the Tiwi Islands Shire Council was A$26.4 million.