Northern Territory Government

The Government of the Northern Territory of Australia, also referred to as the Northern Territory Government, is the Australian territorial democratic administrative authority 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.

Northern Territory Government
Territorial Government
Logo of the Northern Territory Government and its agencies Coat of arms of the Northern Territory
The Northern Territory Government logo used to corporately identity the executive government and its agencies (left); and the Coat of arms of the Northern Territory, used across the government (right)
Formation
Territory Northern Territory
Country Australia
Websitent.gov.au
Legislative branch
LegislatureParliament of the Northern Territory
Meeting placeParliament House
Executive branch
Head of governmentChief Minister
Main bodyNorthern Territory Ministry
Appointed byAdministrator
HeadquartersParliament House
Main organExecutive Council
Departments10 departments
Judicial branch
CourtSupreme Court
SeatSupreme court building. Darwin

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 13 May 2022, the head of government has been Chief Minister Natasha Fyles of the Labor Party, replacing Michael Gunner after his surprise resignation.[1]

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:[2][3]

MinisterOfficesPortraitPartyOpposition counterpartOfficesPortraitParty
Michael Gunner MLA Chief Minister
Treasurer
Minister for Major Projects and Territory Economic Reconstruction
Minister for Strategic Defence Relations
  Labor Lia Finocchiaro MLA Leader of the Opposition
Shadow Treasurer
Shadow Minister for Major Projects and Territory Economic Reconstruction
Shadow Minister for Strategic Defence Relations
  Country Liberal
Nicole Manison MLA Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services
Minister for Northern Australia and Trade
  Labor Shadow Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services
Shadow Minister for Northern Australia and Trade
Minister for Mining and Industry Steve Edgington MLA Shadow Minister for Mining and Industry   Country Liberal
Minister for Agribusiness and Aquaculture Ian Sloan MLA Shadow Minister for Agribusiness and Aquaculture   Country Liberal
Minister for International Education Jo Hersey MLA Shadow Minister for International Education   Country Liberal
Deputy Chief Minister
Minister for Defence Industries
Gerard Maley MLA Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Shadow Minister for Defence Industries
  Country Liberal
Natasha Fyles MLA Leader of Government Business
Minister for Alcohol Policy
Minister for National Resilience
  Labor Shadow Minister for Alcohol Policy
Shadow Minister for National Resilience
Minister for Health Bill Yan MLA Shadow Minister for Health   Country Liberal
Minister for Tourism and Hospitality
Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing
Marie-Clare Boothby MLA Shadow Minister for Tourism and Hospitality
Shadow Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing
  Country Liberal
Minister for Major Events Joshua Burgoyne MLA Shadow Minister for Major Events   Country Liberal
Eva Lawler MLA Minister for Renewables and Energy
Minister for Essential Services
Minister for Climate Change
  Labor Shadow Minister for Renewables and Energy
Shadow Minister for Essential Services
Shadow Minister for Climate Change
Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Gerard Maley MLA Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics   Country Liberal
Minister for Environment
Minister for Water Security
Jo Hersey MLA Shadow Minister for Environment
Shadow Minister for Water Security
  Country Liberal
Lauren Moss MLA Minister for Education
Minister for Seniors
  Labor Shadow Minister for Education
Shadow Minister for Seniors
Minister for Youth Joshua Burgoyne MLA Shadow Minister for Youth   Country Liberal
Minister for Women Marie-Clare Boothby MLA Shadow Minister for Women   Country Liberal
Minister for Children Steve Edgington MLA Shadow Minister for Children   Country Liberal
Selena Uibo MLA Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Minister for Treaty and Local Decision Making
  Labor Shadow Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Shadow Minister for Treaty and Local Decision Making
Minister for Parks and Rangers Bill Yan MLA Shadow Minister for Parks and Rangers   Country Liberal
Paul Kirby MLA Minister for Public Employment
Minister for Corporate and Digital Development
  Labor Shadow Minister for Public Employment
Shadow Minister for Corporate and Digital Development
Minister for Jobs and Training
Minister for Small Business
Marie-Clare Boothby MLA Shadow Minister for Jobs and Training
Shadow Minister for Small Business
  Country Liberal
Minister for Veterans Affairs Ian Sloan MLA Shadow Minister for Veterans Affairs   Country Liberal
Minister for Recreational Fishing Gerard Maley MLA Shadow Minister for Recreational Fishing   Country Liberal
Kate Worden MLA Minister for Multicultural Affairs   Labor Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs
Minister for Sport Jo Hersey MLA Shadow Minister for Sport   Country Liberal
Minister for Territory Families and Urban Housing Joshua Burgoyne MLA Shadow Minister for Territory Families and Urban Housing   Country Liberal
Minister for Disabilities Bill Yan MLA Shadow Minister for Disabilities   Country Liberal
Chansey Paech MLA Minister for Remote Housing and Town Camps   Labor Shadow Minister for Remote Housing and Town Camps
Minister for Central Australia Economic Reconstruction Joshua Burgoyne MLA Shadow Minister for Central Australia Economic Reconstruction   Country Liberal
Minister for Local Government
Minister for Indigenous Essential Services
Minister for Arts and Culture
Ian Sloan MLA Shadow Minister for Local Government
Shadow Minister for Indigenous Essential Services
Shadow Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage
  Country Liberal

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

References

  1. "Natasha Fyles named as new Northern Territory chief minister". the Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  2. "The Cabinet - NT.GOV.AU". NT.GOV.AU. Northern Territory Government. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  3. "The Shadow Ministry - NT.GOV.AU". NT.GOV.AU. Northern Territory Government. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2021.

Notes

    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.