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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 (Lia Finocchiaro)
Appointed by	Administrator of the Northern Territory (Hugh Heggie) on behalf of the Governor General of Australia (Sam Mostyn)
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)
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 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.

Legislative powers

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

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

Source:

Current composition

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.

See also

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

References

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

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 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

• Northern Territory Government
• 1978 establishments in Australia