Former NT Young Australian of the Year to run for Labor in remote by-election

A former outstanding nurse and Young Australian of the Year in the Northern Territory, Yiwarr McGrath, has been chosen to run in the upcoming by-election for the East Arnhem Land seat. Mr. McGrath, a Yolŋu man hailing from Elcho Island, will replace the long-serving independent politician Yiŋiya Guyula, who resigned due to his inability to collaborate with the present Country Liberal Party (CLP) government. Mr. Guyula departed after a decade in parliament, prompting a by-election slated for September 12.

Born and raised in Galiwin'ku on Elcho Island, a remote north-east Arnhem Land community, Mr. McGrath moved to Canberra and Darwin for his studies. He clinched the NT Health Excellence in Early Career Award in 2025 for his exceptional dedication to Yolŋu-focused patient care as a nurse at Miwatj Health Aboriginal Organisation. In his statement, Mr. McGrath expressed his excitement about the preselection and his intention to uphold Yiŋiya Guyula's legacy, emphasizing that Mulka is his home and healthcare must flourish in their area.

Labor highlighted that Mr. McGrath had disclosed in the preselection process that he was charged with drink driving 16 years ago, leading to a six-month suspension of his license. This disclosure comes after a recent controversy involving the driving record of Labor shadow minister Manuel Brown. A victory in the Mulka seat would bolster Labor's minority in the Northern Territory parliament, which currently stands at five seats.

The opposition leader, Selena Uibo, stated that Labor aims to reinforce strongholds and ensure fair representation in the territory parliament, particularly in the context of the looming exit of the Rio Tinto mine and the transition in the Nhulunbuy township.