Northern Territory Government

Government of the Northern Territory

Emblem of the Northern Territory Government and its agencies
Coat of arms of the Northern Territory, used for formal and ceremonial purposes.
Formation	1978 as responsible self-government
Australian territory	Northern Territory
Website	http://www.nt.gov.au/
Legislative branch
Legislature	Parliament of the Northern Territory; NT Legislative Assembly
Meeting place	Parliament House
Executive branch
Main organ	Executive Council
Leader	Chief Minister
Appointer	Administrator
Meeting place	Parliament House
Judicial branch
Court	Supreme Court
Seat	Darwin

The Government of the Northern Territory, 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 has been 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 31 August 2016, the head of government has been Chief Minister Michael Gunner of the Australian Labor Party.

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).