1981 MacDonnell by-election

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

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.

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