Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
2025 Northern Territory local elections
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
The 2025 Northern Territory local elections will be held on 23 August 2025 to elect the councils of 16[a] of the 18 local government areas (LGAs) in the Northern Territory.[3] Six councils will also hold mayoral elections.[4]
One LGA, the Groote Archipelago Region, was formed in September 2024 and held its inaugural election on 16 March 2025.[5][6] Barkly Regional Council, which was dismissed in June 2024, held an election in November 2024 and will not go to the polls in 2025.[1]
Remove ads
Background
Summarize
Perspective
Barkly dismissal
On 17 October 2023, all elected members of Barkly Regional Council were suspended by the Northern Territory Government because of concerns around fiscal management and service delivery.[7][8] Following the completion of an investigation into its management, the council was dismissed on 20 June 2024.[9][10]
An election was held on 2 November 2024, with 21 candidates contesting five wards and the mayoralty.[11] Greens councillor Dianne Stokes was re-elected in Patta Ward.[12][13]
Coomalie dismissal
On 22 July 2024, all elected members of Coomalie Community Government Council were suspended because of "serious deficiencies in the conduct of the council's affairs".[14][15] The council was dismissed on 23 May 2025.[16][17]
A report found that the council's behaviour had "degenerated significantly" prior to the suspension, and councillors had become divided into "two voting blocs" led by president Sharon Beswick and deputy president Colin Freeman.[18][19]
Proposed mayoral elections removal
In April 2025, the Northern Territory Government proposed removing the direct mayoral elections in six councils – Alice Springs, Barkly, Darwin, Katherine, Litchfield and Palmerston – and move to having mayors elected by councillors, as is the case in other twelve LGAs.[20] No decision on the proposal was made by the government before the 2025 local elections.[21]
Remove ads
Electoral system
Northern Territory local elections use proportional representation with the single transferable vote (STV).[22] Voting is compulsory for any person who is on the Northern Territory electoral roll in an address that is within a council area.[23][24]
Like at territory general elections, the local elections are conducted by the Northern Territory Electoral Commission (NTEC).[25][26]
Election timeline
The NTEC has advised that the timeline for the local elections will be as follows:[27]
- 11 July – Candidate nominations open
- 22 July (5pm) – Electoral roll closes
- 31 July (12pm) – Candidate nominations close
- 1 August (12pm) – Declaration of nominations
- 11 August – Early voting begins
- 22 August – Early voting ends
- 23 August – Polling day
- 8 September – Declaration of results
Candidates
Political parties
The Territory Labor Party and Country Liberal Party do not endorse candidates for local elections.[28][29] The NT Greens do endorse in several LGAs and had two candidates elected in 2021.[30][31]
Notes
- All local government areas, with the exception of Barkly Regional Council and Groote Archipelago Regional Council, will hold an election on 23 August 2025.[1] However, the Northern Territory Electoral Commission (NTEC) considers the election for Coomalie Community Government Council separate from the 2025 local elections, despite it being held concurrently and with the same timetable.[2]
References
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads