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Chief Minister of the Northern Territory facts for kids

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Chief Minister of the
Northern Territory
Flag of the Northern Territory.svg
Flag of the Northern Territory
Northern Territory Coat of Arms.svg
Coat of arms of the Northern Territory
Lia Finocchiaro Profile.jpg
Incumbent
Lia Finocchiaro

since 28 August 2024
Department of the Chief Minister
Style The Honourable
Abbreviation CM
Member of
  • Parliament
  • National Cabinet
  • Cabinet
  • Executive Council
Reports to Parliament
Seat Darwin, Northern Territory
Appointer Administrator of the Northern Territory
by convention, based on appointee's ability to command confidence in the Legislative Assembly
Term length At the Administrator's pleasure
contingent on the chief minister's ability to command confidence in the house of Parliament
Constituting instrument None (constitutional convention)
Formation 19 October 1974 as Majority Leader
1 July 1978 as chief minister
First holder Goff Letts as Majority Leader
Paul Everingham as chief minister
Deputy Deputy Chief Minister of the Northern Territory
Salary A$325,392
Website www.chiefminister.nt.gov.au

The Chief Minister of the Northern Territory is the main leader of the government in the Northern Territory of Australia. This job is similar to a state premier in other parts of Australia.

When the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly (which is like their parliament) was first created in 1974, the leader was called the Majority Leader. This title was used until 1978. In 1978, the Northern Territory gained more control over its own affairs, and the leader's title changed to Chief Minister. The Chief Minister then had much more power.

The Administrator officially appoints the Chief Minister. Usually, the Administrator chooses the leader of the political party that has the most seats in the Legislative Assembly. This is how the system works in a parliamentary democracy.

Since August 28, 2024, Lia Finocchiaro from the Country Liberal Party has been the Chief Minister. She is the fourth woman to hold this important position in the Northern Territory.

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How the Chief Minister Role Began

The Country Liberal Party won the very first election in the Northern Territory on October 19, 1974. Their leader, Goff Letts, became the first Majority Leader. He led a group called the Executive, which acted much like a government ministry.

In the 1977 election, Goff Letts lost his seat and his leadership role. Paul Everingham from the Country Liberal Party took over as Majority Leader on August 13, 1977.

When the Northern Territory became self-governing on July 1, 1978, Paul Everingham became the first Chief Minister. His Executive group then officially became a Ministry, which is a formal government team.

Even though the leader was called "Majority Leader," the opposing leader was known as the Leader of the Opposition, not the Minority Leader.

Important Moments in Leadership

In 2001, Clare Martin made history. She became the first Chief Minister from the Labor Party and the first female Chief Minister of the Northern Territory.

Before 2004, the Northern Territory Electoral Office handled elections and drew electoral boundaries. This office was part of the Chief Minister's department. In March 2004, an independent group called the Northern Territory Electoral Commission was created to do this work.

In 2013, Adam Giles became the Chief Minister and leader of the Country Liberal Party. He was the first indigenous Australian to lead a state or territory government in Australia.

After the 2016 election, Michael Gunner from the Labor Party became Chief Minister. He was the first Chief Minister who was born in the Northern Territory.

Michael Gunner announced he would resign on May 10, 2022. On May 13, 2022, Natasha Fyles was chosen by the Labor Party members to take his place. She resigned on December 19, 2023. On December 21, 2023, Eva Lawler replaced Natasha Fyles. Eva Lawler's term ended on August 28, 2024.

Who Has Been Chief Minister?

From 1974 to 1978, the leader was called the Majority Leader. Here are the people who held that role:

Political parties

     Country Liberal Party (CLP)      Territory Labor Party (TL)

No. Portrait Name
Electoral division
(Birth–death)
Election Term of office Political party Executive Administrator
Term start Term end Time in office
1
Goff Letts
Goff Letts
Goff Letts
MLA for Victoria River
(1928–2023)
1974 19 October
1974
12 August
1977
2 years, 297 days CLP Letts Jock Nelson
(1973–1975)
None
(1975–1978)
2
Paul Everingham
Paul Everingham
Paul Everingham
MLA for Jingili
(born 1943)
1977 13 August
1977
30 June
1978
321 days CLP Everingham
John England
(1978–1981)

From 1978 onwards, the position has been known as the Chief Minister:

No. Portrait Name
Electoral division
(Birth–death)
Election Term of office Political party Ministry Administrator
Term start Term end Time in office
1
Paul Everingham
Paul Everingham
Paul Everingham
MLA for Jingili
(born 1943)
1 July
1978
15 October
1984
6 years, 106 days CLP Everingham John England
(1978–1981)
1980
Eric Johnston
(1981–1989)
1983
2
Ian Tuxworth cropped portrait
Ian Tuxworth
Ian Tuxworth
MLA for Barkly
(1942–2020)
16 October
1984
13 May
1986
1 year, 209 days CLP Tuxworth
3
Stephen Hatton Potrait
Stephen Hatton
Stephen Hatton
MLA for Nightcliff
(born 1948)
14 May
1986
12 July
1988
2 years, 59 days CLP Hatton
1987
4
Marshall Perron - Library & Archives NT (PH0730-1372)
Marshall Perron
Marshall Perron
MLA for Fannie Bay
(born 1942)
13 July
1988
24 May
1995
6 years, 315 days CLP Perron
James Muirhead
(1989–1993)
1990
Austin Asche
(1993–1997)
1994
5
Shane Stone (cropped)
Shane Stone
Shane Stone
MLA for Port Darwin
(born 1950)
25 May
1995
7 February
1999
3 years, 258 days CLP Stone
1997
Neil Conn
(1997–2000)
6
Denis Burke in 2001
Denis Burke
Denis Burke
MLA for Brennan
(born 1948)
8 February
1999
27 August
2001
2 years, 200 days CLP Burke
John Anictomatis
(2000–2003)
7
Clare Martin in 2001
Clare Martin
Clare Martin
MLA for Fannie Bay
(born 1952)
2001 27 August
2001
26 November
2007
6 years, 91 days TL Martin
Ted Egan
(2003–2007)
2005
Tom Pauling
(2007–2011)
8
Paul Henderson in 2001
Paul Henderson
Paul Henderson
MLA for Wanguri
(born 1962)
26 November
2007
28 August
2012
4 years, 276 days TL Henderson
2008
Sally Thomas
(2011–2014)
9
Terry Mills in 2005 (cropped)
Terry Mills
Terry Mills
MLA for Blain
(born 1957)
2012 29 August
2012
13 March
2013
196 days CLP Mills
10
Adam Giles Portrait 2015
Adam Giles
Adam Giles
MLA for Braitling
(born 1973)
14 March
2013
30 August
2016
3 years, 169 days CLP Giles
John Hardy
(2014–2017)
11
Michael Gunner shakes hands with Adm. Harry Harris (cropped)
Michael Gunner
Michael Gunner
MLA for Fannie Bay
(born 1976)
2016 31 August
2016
13 May
2022
5 years, 255 days TL Gunner
Vicki O'Halloran
(2017–2023)
2020
12
FylesPortrait (cropped)
Natasha Fyles
Natasha Fyles
MLA for Nightcliff
(born 1978)
13 May
2022
21 December
2023
1 year, 222 days TL Fyles
Hugh Heggie
(since 2023)
13
EvaLawler2023cropped
Eva Lawler
Eva Lawler
MLA for Drysdale
(born 1962)
21 December
2023
28 August 2024 251 days TL Lawler
14
Lia Finocchiaro Profile
Lia Finocchiaro
Lia Finocchiaro
MLA for Spillett
(born 1984)
2024 28 August 2024 Incumbent 332 days CLP Finocchiaro

More Information

  • List of chief ministers of the Northern Territory by time in office
  • Territory rig
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