Northern Territory

About Parliament | History | Territory symbols | Chartist checkbox | Did you know?

About Parliament

• The Northern Territory Parliament has one chamber: the Legislative Assembly.
• There are currently 25 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), each from a single electoral division. MLAs are elected for up to four years.
• Members of the Legislative Assembly are elected using a preferential voting system.
• The Legislative Assembly has a minimum term of three years, before which an election cannot be called, unless there is a vote of no confidence in the government. Elections must be held within four years of the previous election.
• Voting in Northern Territory Legislative Assembly elections is open to all citizens aged 18 years or over who are listed on the Northern Territory roll for Federal elections.

History

• The first European settlement in northern Australia started in 1824 when what is now the Northern Territory was part of the Colony of New South Wales.
• In 1863, the Northern Territory became part of the Colony of South Australia.
• From January 1911, the Northern Territory was the responsibility of the Commonwealth.
• The first Legislative Council of the Northern Territory was appointed in December 1947. There were 13 Members. Seven were official Members, mainly the heads of Commonwealth Government departments. The remaining six were elected. The head of the Legislative Council was the Administrator of the Northern Territory who was appointed by the Commonwealth.
• In 1974, the Legislative Council was replaced by a fully elected Legislative Assembly with 19 Members.
• In 1978, the Northern Territory was granted self-government by an Act of the Commonwealth Parliament but, because it is not a state, the degree of self-government is limited. The Federal Government has kept control of several areas usually run by a state government. These include Aboriginal land, uranium mining, and industrial relations. However, the Northern Territory is regarded as a state for financial dealings between the State and Federal Governments.
• In 1982, membership of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly was increased to 25.

Territory symbols

The colours of the Northern Territory are those of its flag: black, white and ochre.

	Until the Northern Territory was granted self-government on 1 July 1978, it was run by the Commonwealth Government, and used the Commonwealth Coat of Arms. The Territory was given its own Coat of Arms in 1978. This shows two red kangaroos supporting a shield which contains Aboriginal items associated with Arnhem Land. The crest is a wedge-tailed eagle.
	The Northern Territory flag was first flown in 1978. Its design uses the black, white and ochre colours found in Aboriginal painting. The flag shows the official flower of the Territory and the Southern Cross.
	The Northern Territory Parliament House was opened in August 1994. It is Australia's newest Parliamentary building. The Parliament House is located in State Square, the administrative centre of Northern Territory law and government.
	The Red Kangaroo is the Official Animal Emblem of the Northern Territory.
	The Wedge-tailed Eagle is the Official Bird Emblem of the Northern Territory.
	In 1974, Sturt's Desert Rose was made the Official Flower Emblem of the Northern Territory.

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Northern Territory (Self government from 1978)

Did you know?

• As the Northern Territory is not a state, it is represented at the Federal level by two Senators, elected for the term of the House of Representatives, that is, not more than three years.
• The small population of the Northern Territory means that it is currently represented by only two Members in the House of Representatives: the Members for Solomon and Lingiari.
• The Administrator of the Northern Territory, the ‘Head of State’, is appointed by the Governor-General as their representative in the Northern Territory. Laws made by the Legislative Assembly require the assent of the Administrator.
• The leader of the government in the Northern Territory is known as the Chief Minister.