1981 MacDonnell by-election

A by-election for the seat of MacDonnell in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly was held on 28 March 1981. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labor Party member Neville Perkins, the first indigenous person in Australia to hold a shadow ministry in an Australian parliament. The seat had been held by Perkins since 1977.

1981 MacDonnell by-election

28 March 1981

First party Second party   Candidate Neil Bell Rosalie Kunoth-Monks Party Labor Country Liberal Popular vote 1,047 499 Percentage 67.7% 32.3% Swing 10.1 10.1

MP before election Neville Perkins Labor Elected MP Neil Bell Labor

The CLP selected Aboriginal film activist Rosalie Kunoth-Monks, as its candidate. The Labor candidate was Neil Bell.

Results

MacDonnell by-election, 1981^[1][2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Neil Bell	1,047	67.7	+10.1
	Country Liberal	Rosalie Kunoth-Monks	499	32.3	−10.1
Total formal votes			1,546	95.6	−0.2
Informal votes			71	4.4	+0.2
Turnout			1,617	66.6	+5.6
	Labor hold		Swing	+10.1