Tiwi Islands Region

Coordinates: 12°27′00″S 130°49′59″E / 12.4500°S 130.8330°E / -12.4500; 130.8330
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Tiwi Islands Regional Council
Northern Territory
Population2,753 (2018)[1]
 • Density0.36790/km2 (0.95286/sq mi)
Established2014
Area7,483 km2 (2,889.2 sq mi)[1]
MayorPirrawayingi Puruntatameri[2]
Council seatMilikapiti
RegionTiwi Islands
Territory electorate(s)Arafura
Federal division(s)Lingiari
WebsiteTiwi Islands Regional Council
LGAs around Tiwi Islands Regional Council:
Timor Sea Timor Sea Arafura Sea
Timor Sea Tiwi Islands Regional Council West Arnhem
Wagait Darwin West Arnhem

The Tiwi Islands Region is a local government area (LGA) of the Northern Territory, Australia. The LGA covers an area of 7,483 square kilometres (2,889 sq mi) 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[edit]

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.[citation needed]

The Tiwi Islands Shire Council became the Tiwi Islands Regional Council under legislation passed by the Northern Territory Government in January 2014.[3]

Description and governance[edit]

The local government area covers an area of 7,483 square kilometres (2,889 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 2,753 in June 2018.[1]

The most recent council elections (which also elected the Mayor) were held on 10 September 2021.[4] The current Mayor is Pirrawayingi Puruntatameri (an independent) and the current Deputy Mayor is Leslie Tungatalum (a member of the Country Liberal Party).[5]

Wards[edit]

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:[6]

Bathurst (6) Milikapiti (3) Pirlangimpi (3)
  • Lynette De Santis
  • Jeffrey Ullungura
  • Pius Tipungwuti
  • Pirrawayingi Puruntatameri
  • Therese Bourke
  • Joseph Gideon Pangiraminni

Localities and communities[edit]

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".[7][8]

Localities[edit]

Communities[edit]

Demographics[edit]

The demographics of the region are shown in the tables below.[9]

Ancestry[edit]

Ancestry Number Percentage
Aboriginal 2,023 82.3%
Australia Australian 174 7.1%
England English 89 3.6%
Republic of Ireland Irish 31 1.3%
Scotland Scottish 22 0.9%
Fiji Fijian 20 0.8%
Philippines Filipino 12 0.5%
Torres Strait Islander 11 0.4%
New Zealand New Zealander 8 0.3%
Greece Greek 6 0.2%
Estonia Estonian 6 0.2%
Japan Japanese 6 0.2%
China Chinese 5 0.2%
Samoa Samoan 4 0.2%
Tonga Tongan 4 0.2%
Vietnam Vietnamese 4 0.2%
Netherlands Dutch 4 0.2%
Germany German 3 0.1%
South Sea Islander 3 0.1%
Afghanistan Afghan 3 0.1%
Italy Italian 3 0.1%
Indonesia Indonesian 3 0.1%

Birthplace[edit]

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
 Australia 2,319 94.5% -233
 Philippines 15 0.6% +15
 United Kingdom 13 0.5% +13
 Fiji 12 0.5% +12

Language[edit]

Language spoken at home[edit]

Language Number Percentage Change since 2011
Australian Aboriginal languages (primarily Tiwi) 2,022 82.4% -3
English 272 11.1% -204
Fijian 15[a] 0.6% +15
Only English 272 11.1% -204
Language other than English 2,063 84.1% +19

Proficiency in English[edit]

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[edit]

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[b] 143 5.9% +61

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ 12 of these were born in Fiji.
  2. ^ In the 2016 Census, the religion question was optional and many Australians did not answer it.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
  2. ^ https://tiwiislands.org.au/the-council/council-members
  3. ^ Tollner, David William (18 December 2013). "Local Government Act: Changes to local government areas and councils" (PDF). Northern Territory Government Gazette. Northern Territory Government. p. 3. Retrieved 26 April 2019. with effect from 1 January 2014:
  4. ^ https://ntec.nt.gov.au/elections/local-government-elections/past-elections/2021-local-government-elections
  5. ^ https://tiwiislands.org.au/the-council/council-members
  6. ^ https://tiwislands.org.au/the-council/council-members
  7. ^ "Northern Territory localities and suburbs". Place Names Committee. Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  8. ^ "Tiwi Islands Shire (sic)". Place Names Committee. Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  9. ^ "About the profile areas - Tiwi Islands Regional Council LGA". profile.id. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2022.

External links[edit]

12°27′00″S 130°49′59″E / 12.4500°S 130.8330°E / -12.4500; 130.8330

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