Labor has secured the seat of Mulka in a by-election over the weekend, with Yolŋu man and registered nurse Yiwarr McGrath becoming the sixth Labor MP in the Territory Parliament.

After the shock resignation of long-time Mulka independent Yiŋiya Mark Guyula last month, Mr McGrath, 35, secured 77.5 per cent of the vote on Saturday amid low voter turnout in the East Arnhem Land seat.

The 2021 NT Young Australian of the Year and father of three is the first Yolŋu Labor MP and becomes the fifth Aboriginal Territorian in the opposition's caucus.

He represents one of the most disadvantaged regions in the country, with more than 60 per cent of the population identifying as Indigenous.

On Saturday night in Nhulunbuy, Mr McGrath told the ABC he grew up as an orphan who didn't know when and where his next meal would come from.

"So, I'm going to come here to the parliament with real-life experiences and influence policy for my people and everyone else in this region," he said.

In a statement, Labor leader Selena Uibo congratulated Mr McGrath, arguing he ran a "campaign focused on the issues that matter most to local people — a strong post-mining future for the region and retaining Nhulunbuy as a thriving service hub".

"As a Yolŋu man and registered nurse, Yiwarr has seen first-hand the impact of overcrowded houses on families," she said.

"He will fight for more housing, reliable local health services, better roads and economic opportunities for people across the electorate."

The resignation of Mr Guyula last month, who held the seat of Mulka, previously known as Nhulunbuy, in East Arnhem Land since 2016, was seen by many as a further example of the disconnect between the current Country Liberal Party (CLP) Government and many Aboriginal Territorians.

He slammed the CLP in his resignation statement, arguing they have "introduced too many laws that are dehumanising, oppressing and destroying our communities and our people".

"They have significantly failed Aboriginal people and their ongoing actions are contributing to the breakdown of our culture and people, in what is now becoming a slow genocide," he said.

"I no longer feel that I can be a part of the NT Parliament and sit opposite a government who are not willing to listen or form partnerships."

Ms Uibo congratulated Mr Guyula for his ten years of service and said the CLP not fielding a candidate in the by-election showed they have " turned their back on the people of East Arnhem and failed to invest in the Nhulunbuy transition".

"From Galiwin'ku to Ramingining, Milingimbi to Nhulunbuy and Yirrkala and across homelands, Yiwarr sat down with people, listened to their concerns and promised to fight for them in Parliament," she said.

"Now he will make sure the CLP Government listens too."