Northern Territory Government

Territory government of the Northern Territory, Australia

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Northern Territory Government

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 (Lia Finocchiaro)
Appointed by| Administrator (Hugh Heggie) on behalf of the Governor-General (Sam Mostyn)
Main organ|

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

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

The Northern Territory 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 28 August 2024, the head of government is Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro of the Country Liberal Party, following the election defeat of Eva Lawler as chief minister on 24 August 2024.[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: Finocchiaro ministry and Opposition (Northern Territory)

Source:[5][6]

### Current composition

[edit]

Minister  | Office

|

Hon Lia Finocchiaro, MLA  |

* Chief Minister
* Minister for Police
* Minister for Fire and Emergency Services
* Minister for Defence NT
* Minister for Territory Coordinator

Hon Gerard Maley, MLA  |

* Deputy Chief Minister
* Minister for Agribusiness and Fisheries
* Minister for Mining and Energy
* Minister for Corrections
* Minister for Renewables
* Minister for Recreational Fishing

Bill Yan |

* Treasurer
* Minister of Logistics and Infrastructure
* Minister of Housing Construction

Marie-Clare Boothby |

* Attorney-General
* Minister for Tourism and Hospitality
* Minister for Major Events
* Minister for Parks and Wildlife
* Minister for Racing

Steve Edgington |

* Minister for Health
* Minister for Mental Health
* Minister for Alcohol Policy
* Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
* Minister for Housing, Local Government and Community Development
* Minister for Essential Services

Joshua Burgoyne |

* Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment
* Minister for Corporate and Digital Development
* Minister for Water Resources

Jo Hersey |

* Minister for Education and Training
* Minister for Early Education
* Minister for Service

Robyn Cahill |

* Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations
* Minister for International Education, Migration, and Population
* Minister for Workforce Development
* Minister for Advanced Manufacturing
* Minister for Children and Families
* Minister for Child Protection
* Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence

Jinson Charls |

* Minister for People, Sport and Culture
* Minister for Arts
* Minister for Disability
* Minister for Multicultural Affairs
* Minister for Veterans

## 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.

## 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)
* Federal Executive Council
* Ministry
* Foreign relations
* Parliament
* House of Representatives
* Senate
* Opposition Leader
* High Court
* Lower Courts
* Constitution
* Statute of Westminster
* Australia Act
* Electoral system
* Elections
* 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

Local
government|

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

Political
parties|

* Centre Alliance
* Country Liberal
* Greens
* Katter
* Labor
* Lambie
* Liberal
* Liberal National
* National
* 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
* Liberal–National Coalition
* Mortgage belt
* Nationalism
* Parliamentary secretary
* Playmander
* Pub test
* Quiet Australians
* Responsible government
* Stolen Generations
* Teal independents
* 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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