Lawrence Costa


Lawrence Costa is an Australian politician. He is a Labor member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly since 2016, representing the electorate of Arafura. He is of Tiwi descent.

Early life and career

Lawrence lives on his homeland Pitjarmirra north of Melville Island.
He worked for the Pirlangimpi Community Government Council running the then CDEP Program from 1996 to 2002. He elected on Jabiru Regional Council as the Deputy Chairman. He was then elected chairperson of North West Regional Council from 2002 to 2005. He then became CEO of Tiwi Islands Local Government in 2008. After the amalgamations of the shires he became director of Community Development with Tiwi Islands Shire Council until 2013. Before entering politics, Costa worked as a health service development officer for the Department of Heath.

Politics

Costa was elected into the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly in 2016 for the Labor Party in the electoral division of Arafura, defeating Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu.