Chief Minister of the Northern Territory

Chief Minister of the Northern Territory
Ministry
Territorial

Incumbent
Paul Henderson


Style The Honourable
Appointed by Tom Pauling
as Administrator of the Northern Territory
First Goff Letts
Formation 1974

The Chief Minister of the Northern Territory is appointed by the Administrator, who in normal circumstances will appoint the head of whatever party holds the majority of seats in the legislature of the territory (in the Northern Territory, the Legislative Assembly). However, in times of constitutional crisis the Administrator can appoint someone else as Chief Minister.

In Australia, a Chief Minister is the head of government of a self-governing territory, while the head of government of a state is a Premier.

The incumbent Chief Minister of the Northern Territory is Paul Henderson, representing the Australian Labor Party since 2007.

List of Chief Ministers of the Northern Territory

Chief Minister Party Period in office
  Dr Goff Letts [1] Country Liberal 1974–1977
  Paul Everingham Country Liberal 1977–1984
  Ian Tuxworth Country Liberal 1984–1986
  Stephen Hatton Country Liberal 1986–1988
  Marshall Perron Country Liberal 1988–1995
  Shane Stone Country Liberal 1995–1999
  Denis Burke Country Liberal 1999–2001
  Clare Martin Labor 2001–2007
  Paul Henderson Labor 2007–present

References

  1. ^ While the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly was created in 1974, self-government was not granted until 1978. As a result, members of the executive in the first parliament (1974–1977) and the first eighteen months of the second were known by alternative titles. While Dr Goff Letts and his successor Paul Everingham were officially known as Majority Leaders, their function was effectively the same as that of a Chief Minister from 1978.

See also