Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu
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| Councillor of the Tiwi Islands Region for Bathurst Island |
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| Assumed office 28 August 2021 |
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| Member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly for Arafura |
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| In office 25 August 2012 – 27 August 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Marion Scrymgour |
| Succeeded by | Lawrence Costa |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Maralampuwi Kurrupuwu
10 June 1961 Nguiu, Tiwi Islands, Northern Territory, Australia |
| Political party | Country Liberal (2012–2014; 2014-present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Independent (2014) Palmer United (2014) |
| Spouse | Ancilla Kurrupuwu |
| Occupation | Teacher |
Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu, born on June 10, 1961, is an Australian politician. He is also known by his Tiwi name, Maralampuwi Kurrupuwu. He was a member of the Northern Territory's parliament from 2012 to 2016.
Kurrupuwu was first elected as a member of the Country Liberal Party (CLP). However, he later left the party in April 2014 to become an independent politician. For a short time, he joined the Palmer United Party (PUP). He then returned to the Country Liberal Party in September 2014.
| Years | Term | Electoral division | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–2014 | 12th | Arafura | Country Liberal Party | |
| 2014 | Changed allegiance to: | Independent | ||
| 2014 | Changed allegiance to: | Palmer United Party | ||
| 2014–2016 | Changed allegiance to: | Country Liberal Party | ||
Contents
Early Life and Community Work
Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu was born in a place called Nguiu. This town is on Bathurst Island, which is one of the two main Tiwi Islands. He was given his name, Francis Xavier, by Sister Anne Gardiner. This name honored Bishop Francis Xavier Gsell, who started a Catholic mission on the island in 1911.
Kurrupuwu is a strong Catholic and has worked with the Church for more than 30 years. He also helps manage the Australian Red Cross on the Tiwi Islands. This shows his dedication to helping his community.
Roles in Local Government
Before becoming a member of parliament, Kurrupuwu held many important roles in local government. He was the President and Deputy Chair of the Nguiu Community Council. He also served on the ATSIC regional council. In addition, he was the Deputy Chair of the Tiwi Land Council and a councillor in the Tiwi Islands Shire. These roles helped him understand and serve his community's needs.
His Time in Politics
Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu decided to enter politics to represent his community. He once tried to join the Labor Party but later chose the Country Liberal Party. He felt that some of Labor's policies were not helpful for Aboriginal people.
In the 2012 election, he ran for the area of Arafura. He won against Dean Rioli, who was the Labor candidate. Both men are related to Maurice Rioli, a former politician and football player.
Changing Political Parties
In April 2014, Kurrupuwu, along with two other Indigenous politicians, Alison Anderson and Larisa Lee, left the Country Liberal Party. They decided to become independent members of parliament. Later that same month, all three joined the Palmer United Party. Alison Anderson became the leader of their party group in parliament.
However, in September 2014, Kurrupuwu left the Palmer United Party. He then rejoined the Country Liberal Party. This shows that politicians sometimes change parties based on their beliefs and goals.
Current Role
Today, Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu continues to serve his community. He is a councillor for the Tiwi Islands Region, representing Bathurst Island. He started this role on August 28, 2021.
