The McArthur River zinc mine, a zinc, lead and silver mine about 70 km south-west of Borroloola, is operated by McArthur River Mining (MRM), which is wholly owned by the Swiss mining company Xstrata.
Barkly is a rural electorate, covering 448,576 km² and taking in the towns of Tennant Creek, Borroloola, Ali Curung, Warrego, Tara Aboriginal Community and Alpururulam.
Born in Katherine in 1970, Malarndirri attended school in Borroloola, Alice Springs and St Scholastica's College in Glebe, Sydney, where she was School Captain in 1988.