Northern Territory Government

Territory government of the Northern Territory, Australia

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Northern Territory Government

Government of the Northern Territory of Australia

Territorial Government

The Northern Territory Government logo used to identity the executive government. The coat of arms of the Northern Territory is used to identify the territory as a whole.

Overview
Established|

* 1 January 1911; as an Australian territory
* 1 July 1978; as a responsible self-government

Country|  Australia
Polity|  Northern Territory
Leader| Chief Minister of the Northern Territory (Eva Lawler)
Appointed by| Administrator of the Northern Territory (Hugh Heggie) on behalf of the Governor General of Australia (David Hurley)
Main organ|

* Executive Council of the Northern Territory (de jure)
* Cabinet of the Northern Territory (de facto)

Ministries| 11 Government Departments
Responsible to| Parliament of the Northern Territory
Annual budget| $10 billion (2023-2024)[1]
Headquarters| Parliament House, Darwin
Website| nt.gov.au

The Government of the Northern Territory of Australia, also referred to as the Northern Territory Government, the Government of the Northern Territory or simply the NT Government, is the executive branch of the Northern Territory. The Government of Northern Territory was formed in 1978 with the granting of self-government to the Territory. The Northern Territory is a territory of the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Constitution of Australia and Commonwealth law regulates its relationship with the Commonwealth.

Under the Australian Constitution, the Commonwealth has full legislative power, if it chooses to exercise it, over the Northern Territory, and has devolved self-government to the Territory. The Northern Territory legislature does not have the legislative independence of the Australian states but has power in all matters not in conflict with the Constitution and applicable Commonwealth laws, but subject to a Commonwealth veto.

Since 21 December 2023, the head of government has been Chief Minister Eva Lawler of the Labor Party, following the resignation of Natasha Fyles as chief minister on 20 December 2023 following the undisclosed share and conflict of interest scandal. [2][3][4]

## Legislative powers

[edit]

Legislative power rests with the Legislative Assembly, which consists of the Administrator of the Northern Territory and the members of the Assembly. While the Assembly exercises roughly the same powers as the state governments of Australia, it does so by a delegation of powers from the Commonwealth, rather than by any constitutional right. This means that the Australian Parliament retains the right to legislate for the Territory, if it chooses to exercise it. Under the law granting self-government to the Territory, the Federal Cabinet can advise the Governor-General of Australia to overturn any legislation passed by the Assembly. (See also Electoral systems of the Australian states and territories).

## Executive powers

[edit]

The government consists of a Ministry appointed by the Administrator, from the elected members of the Assembly. The Administrator normally appoints the leader of the majority party in the Assembly as the Chief Minister. The other members of the ministry are appointed by the Administrator on the advice of the Chief Minister. The Northern Territory Government is a member of the Council of Australian Governments.

## Current ministries

[edit]

Main articles: Lawler ministry and Opposition (Northern Territory)

Source:[5][6]

### Current composition

[edit]

Portrait  | Minister  | Portfolio[7] | Took office  | Left office  | Duration of tenure  | Electorate

|
|
|
|
|
|

|  | Eva Lawler MLA |

* Chief Minister
* Treasurer
* Minister for Territory Development
* Minister for Defence Industries
* Minister for Industry and Trade
* Minister for Major Projects

| 21 December 2023  | Incumbent | 239 days  | Drysdale
| Chansey Paech MLA |

* Deputy Chief Minister
* Leader of Government Business
* Attorney General and Minister for Justice
* Minister for Local Government
* Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty
* Minister for the Arts, Culture and Heritage

| 21 December 2023  | Incumbent | 239 days  | Gwoja
| Selena Uibo MLA |

* Minister for Health
* Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
* Minister for Remote Housing and Homelands
* Minister for Parks and Rangers
* Minister for Local Decision Making
* Minister for Public Employment
* Minister for Corporate and Digital Development

| 21 December 2023  | Incumbent | 239 days  | Arnhem
| Kate Worden MLA |

* Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water Security
* Minister for Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence
* Minister for Sport
* Minister for Renewables and Energy
* Minister for Essential Services

| 21 December 2023  | Incumbent | 239 days  | Sanderson
| Ngaree Ah Kit MLA |

* Minister for Territory Families
* Minister for Urban Housing
* Minister for Youth , Seniors, and Equality
* Minister for Multicultural Affairs
* Minister for Disabilities

| 21 December 2023  | Incumbent | 239 days  | Karama
| Brent Potter MLA |

* Minister for Police
* Minister for Alcohol Policy
* Minister for Fire and Emergency Services
* Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
* Minister for Major Events

| 21 December 2023  | Incumbent | 239 days  | Fannie Bay
| Joel Bowden MLA |

* Minister of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics
* Minister for Business and Jobs
* Minister for Skills, Training and International Education
* Minister for Tourism and Hospitality
* Minister for Recreational Fishing

| 21 December 2023  | Incumbent | 239 days  | Johnston
| Mark Monaghan MLA |

* Minister for Education
* Minister for Mining
* Minister for Agribusiness and Fisheries

| 21 December 2023  | Incumbent | 239 days  | Fong Lim

Source:[8]

Officeholder | Office(s) | Image

|
|

Lia Finocchiaro MP  |

* Leader of the Opposition
* Shadow Treasurer
* Shadow Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services
* Shadow Minister for Major Projects and Territory Economic Reconstruction
* Shadow Minister for Strategic Defence Relations
* Shadow Minister for Northern Australia and Trade

Gerard Maley MP  |

* Deputy Leader of the Opposition
* Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics
* Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs
* Shadow Minister for Defence Industries
* Shadow Minister for Recreational Fishing
* Shadow Minister for Alcohol Policy
* Shadow Minister for National Resilience

Steve Edgington MP  |

* Shadow Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
* Shadow Minister for Mining and Industry
* Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
* Shadow Minister for Children
* Shadow Minister for Treaty and Local Decision Making
* Shadow Minister for Local Government

Joshua Burgoyne MP  |

* Shadow Minister for Territory Families and Urban Housing
* Shadow Minister for Central Australia Economic Reconstruction
* Shadow Minister for Renewables and Energy
* Shadow Minister for Essential Services
* Shadow Minister for Major Events
* Shadow Minister for Youth
* Shadow Minister for Climate Change
* Shadow Minister for Agribusiness and Aquaculture

Marie-Clare Boothby MP  |

* Shadow Minister for Tourism and Hospitality
* Shadow Minister for Small Business
* Shadow Minister for Jobs and Training
* Shadow Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing
* Shadow Minister for Women
* Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs

Jo Hersey MP  |

* Shadow Minister for Education
* Shadow Minister for Environment
* Shadow Minister for International Education
* Shadow Minister for Sport
* Shadow Minister for Water Security
* Shadow Minister for Seniors
* Shadow Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage

Bill Yan MP  |

* Shadow Minister for Health
* Shadow Minister for Remote Housing and Town Camps
* Shadow Minister for Public Employment
* Shadow Minister for Corporate and Digital Development
* Shadow Minister for Disabilities
* Shadow Minister for Parks and Rangers
* Shadow Minister for Indigenous Essential Services

## Proposed Northern Territory statehood

[edit]

Main article: Proposed Northern Territory statehood

For many years there has been agitation for statehood. A referendum was held on the issue in 1998, but the proposal was narrowly rejected. This was a shock to both the Northern Territory and Commonwealth governments, for opinion polls showed most Territorians supported statehood. However, under s. 121 of the Australian Constitution, the terms of admission of new states are decided by the Commonwealth Parliament. The terms offered included an increase to three seats in the Senate from two. The other states all have 12 senators. Alongside what was cited as an arrogant approach adopted by then Chief Minister Shane Stone, it is thought that many Territorians were reluctant to accept statehood on the offered terms.[citation needed]

## See also

[edit]

* Government portal

* Northern Territory of Australia Government Gazette
* Local Government Areas of the Northern Territory

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Northern Territory Government. "BUDGET 2023-24 Budget Paper No. 2 BUDGET STRATEGY AND OUTLOOK" (PDF). NT Budget 2023. Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
2. ^ "Eva Lawler to become Northern Territory chief minister". ABC News. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
3. ^ "How $2,500 worth of shares brought down the NT chief minister". ABC News. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
4. ^ "The NT chief minister has resigned. Here's who could replace her". ABC News. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
5. ^ "The Cabinet - NT.GOV.AU". NT.GOV.AU. Northern Territory Government. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
6. ^ "The Shadow Ministry - NT.GOV.AU". NT.GOV.AU. Northern Territory Government. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
7. ^ Lawler, Eva (21 December 2023). "Lawler Ministry to Build the Territory's Future". createsend.com. Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
8. ^ "Shadow Ministry - 14th Assembly – Northern Territory Government – Legislative Assembly". Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory. Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.

## Notes

[edit]

* v
* t
* e

Government of the Northern Territory

Executive|

* Administrator
* Chief Minister
* Deputy Chief Minister
* Cabinet
* Police

Legislative|

* Legislative Assembly
* Legislative Council
* Electoral divisions
* MLAs
* Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
* Opposition Leader

Judicial|

* Supreme Court
* Magistrates court
* Local Court
* Coroners Court
* Other courts and tribunals

* v
* t
* e

Northern Territory

Topics|

* Crime
* Energy
* Fire and Rescue Service
* Flag
* Geography
* History
* Local Government
* Police
* Sport
* Symbols
* Territory Government
* Territory Parliament

Regions|

* Alice Springs Region
* Arnhem Land
* Barkly Tableland
* Darwin Region
* Katherine Region

Major settlements|

* Alice Springs
* Darwin
* Katherine
* Nhulunbuy
* Palmerston
* Tennant Creek
* List of places in the Northern Territory by population

* v
* t
* e

Politics of Australia

Commonwealth|

* Monarch
* Governor-General
* Prime Minister
* Cabinet (Shadow Cabinet)
* Executive Council
* Ministry
* Foreign relations

* Parliament
* House of Representatives
* Senate
* Opposition Leader

* High Court
* Lower Courts

* Constitution
* Statute of Westminster
* Australia Act

Federal
elections|

* Pre-1972
* 1972
* 1974
* 1975
* 1977
* 1980
* 1983
* 1984
* 1987
* 1990
* 1993
* 1996
* 1998
* 2001
* 2004
* 2007
* 2010
* 2013
* 2016
* 2019
* 2022
* Next
* By-elections
* Referendums

* Timeline

State/territory
governments|

* Governors and Administrators
* Premiers and Chief Ministers
* Parliaments and Assemblies
* State and Territory Shadow Cabinet

* NSW
* Vic
* Qld
* WA
* SA
* Tas
* ACT
* NT

State/territory
elections|

* NT 2020
* ACT 2020
* Qld 2020
* WA 2021
* SA 2022
* Vic 2022
* NSW 2023
* Tas 2024

* NT 2024
* ACT 2024
* Qld 2024
* WA 2025
* SA 2026
* Vic 2026
* NSW 2027
* Tas 2028

* Timeline

Local
government|

* New South Wales (list)
* Northern Territory (list)
* Queensland (list)
* South Australia (list)
* Tasmania (list)
* Victoria (list)
* Western Australia (list)

Political
parties|

* Coalition (Liberal, National, Liberal National, Country Liberal)
* Centre Alliance
* Greens
* Katter
* Labor
* Lambie
* One Nation
* UAP
* Other parties
* Historical

Political
terminology|

* Battlers
* Bjelkemander
* Branch stacking
* Casual vacancy
* Caucus revolt
* Chardonnay socialist
* Contempt of parliament
* Despatch box
* Donkey vote
* Dorothy Dixer
* Double dissolution
* Faceless men
* Forgotten People
* Group voting ticket
* Hardworking Families
* How-to-vote card
* Independent politicians
* Kirribilli agreement
* Langer vote
* Leadership spill
* Mortgage belt
* Nationalism
* Parliamentary secretary
* Playmander
* Pub test
* Quiet Australians
* Responsible government
* Stolen Generations
* Working Family
* Worm

* v
* t
* e

Governments of Australian states and territories

States and mainland
territories|

* New South Wales
* Victoria
* Queensland
* Western Australia
* South Australia
* Tasmania
* Australian Capital Territory
* Northern Territory
* Jervis Bay Territory

External territories|

* Ashmore and Cartier Islands
* Australian Antarctic Territory
* Christmas Island
* Cocos (Keeling) Islands
* Coral Sea Islands
* Heard Island and McDonald Islands
* Norfolk Island

Authority control databases |

* ISNI

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