The Tiwi Islands Region is a local government area (LGA) of the Northern Territory, Australia. The LGA covers an area of and had an estimated population of 2,753 in June 2018, and is governed by the Tiwi Islands Regional Council, formerly Tiwi Islands Shire Council.
History In October 2006 the Northern Territory Government announced the reform of local government areas. The intention of the reform was to improve and expand the delivery of services to towns and communities across the Northern Territory by establishing eleven new shires. The Tiwi Islands Shire Council was created on 1 July 2008 as were the remaining ten shires.
The Tiwi Islands Shire Council became the Tiwi Islands Regional Council under legislation passed by the Northern Territory Government in January 2014.
Description and governance The local government area covers an area of and had an estimated population of 2,753 in June 2018.
The most recent council elections (which also elected the Mayor) were held on 10 September 2021. The current mayor is Pirrawayingi Puruntatameri (an independent) and the current Deputy Mayor is Leslie Tungatalum (a member of the Country Liberal Party).
Wards The Tiwi Islands Regional Council is divided into three wards: Bathurst, Milikapiti and Pirlangimpi. The council is governed by 12 councillors, six from Bathurst Ward and three each from the Milikapiti and Pirlangimpi Wards:
Bathurst (6) Milikapiti (3) Pirlangimpi (3) Leslie Tungatalum (CLP) Jennifer Clancy Luke Tipuamantumirri Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu (CLP) Peter Kantilla Stanley Tipiloura Lynette De Santis Jeffrey Ullungura Pius Tipungwuti Pirrawayingi Puruntatameri Therese Bourke Joseph Gideon Pangiraminni
Localities and communities Land within the Tiwi Islands Region was divided during 2007 into bounded areas for the purpose of creating an address for a property. The bounded areas are called "localities" with those localities associated with existing Aboriginal communities being called "communities". Localities Tiwi Islands
Communities CommunityPopulationMap Milikapiti Pirlangimpi (Garden Point) Wurrumiyanga (Nguiu)
Demographics The demographics of the region are shown in the tables below.
Ancestry Ancestry Number Percentage Aboriginal 2,023 82.3% Australian 174 7.1% English 89 3.6% Irish 31 1.3% Scottish 22 0.9% Fijian 20 0.8% Filipino 12 0.5%Torres Strait Islander 11 0.4% New Zealander 8 0.3% Greek 6 0.2% Estonian 6 0.2% Japanese 6 0.2% Chinese 5 0.2% Samoan 4 0.2% Tongan 4 0.2% Vietnamese 4 0.2% Dutch 4 0.2% German 3 0.1% South Sea Islander 3 0.1% Afghan 3 0.1% Italian 3 0.1% Indonesian 3 0.1%
Birthplace Before 2016, all Tiwi Islanders who stated their country of birth were born in Australia. Between 2011 and 2016, however, over ten arrivals each from the Philippines, the United Kingdom and Fiji arrived in the islands. Country Number Percentage Change since 2011 2,319 94.5% -233 15 0.6% +15 13 0.5% +13 12 0.5% +12
Language Language spoken at home Language Number Percentage Change since 2011 Australian Aboriginal languages (primarily Tiwi) 2,022 82.4% -3 English 272 11.1% -204 Fijian 15 0.6% +15 Only English 272 11.1% -204 Language other than English 2,063 84.1% +19
Proficiency in English Proficiency Number Percentage Change since 2011 Speaks another language and English well or very well 1,856 75.7% -22 Speaks only English 272 11.1% -205 Speaks another language, but speaks English not well or not at all 102 4.2% -62
Religion Religion Number Percentage Change since 2011 Roman Catholicism 2,080 84.4% -117 No religion 136 5.6% -22 Christianity (not further defined) 24 1.0% -3 Uniting Church 15 0.6% -14 Christianity 2,156 88.1% -156 No religion 136 5.6% -22 Not stated 143 5.9% +61
Notes
References
External links Tiwi Islands Regional Council website Map of LGAs Policy details