| Country: | Northern Territory |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Election Date: | 28 March 1981 |
| Party1: | Australian Labor Party (Northern Territory Branch) |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,047 |
| Percentage1: | 67.7% |
| Swing1: | 10.1 |
| Party2: | Country Liberal Party |
| Popular Vote2: | 499 |
| Percentage2: | 32.3% |
| Swing2: | 10.1 |
| MP | |
| Before Party: | Australian Labor Party (Northern Territory Branch) |
| After Party: | Australian Labor Party (Northern Territory Branch) |
A by-election for the seat of MacDonnell in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly was held on 28 March 1981. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labor Party member Neville Perkins, the first indigenous person in Australia to hold a shadow ministry in an Australian parliament. The seat had been held by Perkins since 1977.
The CLP selected Aboriginal film activist Rosalie Kunoth-Monks, as its candidate. The Labor candidate was Neil Bell.