The Labor MLA for Arafura has died suddenly, with Chief Minister Natasha Fyles paying tribute to him in a statement.

In the statement Sunday, Ms Fyles said it was with great sadness she acknowledged the passing of the Member for Arafura.

“Family and friends meant everything to him and his generosity and care for people was enormous,” she said.

“Whatever he was doing, his wife Ebony, his children and grandchildren were always close to his thoughts, and time with family was what he cherished most.

“His passing is a huge loss for his family, friends and the Northern Territory. I and his Parliamentary colleagues are only a few of many, many people around the Territory and the country who will be deeply saddened by his loss.

“My sincere condolences to Ebony and the family and to all those whose lives he touched.

“He was the Member for Arafura but more than that, he was a husband, a father, a grandfather, a leader in the community and a friend to many. He was our friend, we are shocked and saddened and will miss him greatly.”

The NT Independent understands the MLA died on Saturday.

Mr Costa, who lived on his homeland Pitjarmirra north of Melville Island, was elected for Labor into the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly in 2016 when he beat Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu, and was re-elected in 2020.

He worked with the Pirlangimpi Community Government Council, running the then Community Development Employment Projects program from 1996 to 2002, the NT Labor page says, and he was then elected into the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission’s Jabiru Regional Council as the deputy chairman.

Mr Costa was the North West Regional Council chairperson from 2002 to 2005, during his time with ATSIC, the page said.

After which he became the Tiwi Islands Local Government chief executive officer before the NT shire amalgamations in 2008, and he then became the Tiwi Islands Shire Council director of community development from 2008 to 2013.

Labor says after that role he started working as an NT Health regional health service development officer including project development and tackling the dangers of ice and other illegal substances amongst young people on the Tiwi Islands.

Mr Costa served on the Legislative Assembly’s Public Accounts; Legal and Constitutional Affairs committee.