2025 Northern Territory local elections explained

Country:Northern Territory
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:yes
Election Date:23 August 2025
Previous Election:2021 Northern Territory local elections
Previous Year:2021
Next Election:2029 Northern Territory local elections
Next Year:2029
Registered:139,105
Image1: IND
Party1:Independents
Last Election1:115 seats
Seats Before1:115
Party2:Northern Territory Greens
Last Election2:2 seats
Seats Before2:2
Swing2:-->

The 2025 Northern Territory local elections will be held on 23 August 2025 to elect the councils of 17 of the 18 local government areas (LGAs) in the Northern Territory, Australia.[1] Several councils will also hold mayoral elections.[2]

One LGA, the Groote Archipelago Region, was formed in September 2024 and is scheduled to hold its inaugural election on 16 March 2025.[3] [4]

Background

Barkly dismissal and election

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.[5] [6] Following the completion of an investigation into its management, the council was dismissed on 20 June 2024.[7] [8]

An election was held on 2 November 2024, with 21 candidates contesting five wards and the mayoralty.[9] Greens councillor Dianne Stokes was re-elected in Patta Ward.[10] [11]

Electoral system

Northern Territory local elections use proportional representation with the single transferable vote (STV).[12] Voting is compulsory for any person who is on the Northern Territory electoral roll in an address that is within a council area.[13] [14]

Like at territory general elections, the local elections are conducted by the Northern Territory Electoral Commission (NTEC).[15]

Political parties

The Territory Labor Party and Country Liberal Party do not endorse candidates for local elections.[16] [17] The NT Greens do endorse in several LGAs and had two candidates elected in 2021.[18] [19]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: So when is the next federal election? A quick guide . Parliament of Australia . 5 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241005055943/https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_departments/Parliamentary_Library/Research/Quick_Guides/2022-23/WhenIsTheNextElection2022 . 5 October 2024 . 22 August 2022 . Northern Territory local government elections are held on the fourth Saturday in August 4 years after the previous election..
  2. Web site: Ashton . Kate . Kon Vatskalis and Athina Pascoe-Bell claim re-election wins in NT council polls . ABC News . 15 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221225210313/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-29/darwin-palmerston-mayors-claim-reelection-counting-continues/100416212 . 25 December 2022 . 29 August 2021.
  3. Web site: New Local Government Council For Groote Archipelago . Mirage News . 15 November 2024 . https://archive.today/20241115060326/https://www.miragenews.com/new-local-government-council-for-groote-1238096/ . 15 November 2024 . 20 May 2024.
  4. Web site: Elections for the newly constituted Groote Archipelago Regional Council election have been postponed to 15 March 2025 . Facebook . Steve Edgington MLA: Member for Barkly . 15 November 2024 . https://archive.today/20241115055755/https://www.facebook.com/SteveEdgingtonMLA/posts/pfbid0Z7VZRVEia2PehiyFBDVjeku5EKjPNbdaK4HJMyxXttFR25QEPHntevgrykbbLZHol?rdid=5YNXqgJnOiPRyvWO%23 . 15 November 2024 . 19 October 2024.
  5. Web site: NT government suspends Barkly Regional Council, places it under 'official management' . ABC News . 15 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241009142420/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-17/nt-government-suspends-all-members-barkly-regional-council/102985246 . 9 October 2024 . 17 October 2023.
  6. Web site: Barkly Regional Council Investigation . Northern Territory Government . 15 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241030061748/https://cmc.nt.gov.au/supporting-government/local-government/barkly-regional-council-investigation . 30 October 2024.
  7. Web site: Houlbrook-Walk . Myles . Barkly Regional Council elected members officially dismissed in wake of damning report . ABC News . 15 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241009142407/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-20/nt-barkly-regional-council-investigation-report-damning-findings/103906966 . 9 October 2024 . 20 June 2024.
  8. Web site: Barkly Regional Council members dismissed, new era set to begin . Australian Rural & Regional News . Tennant & District Times . 15 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241115115615/https://arr.news/2024/06/21/barkly-regional-council-members-dismissed-new-era-set-to-begin/ . 15 November 2024 . 21 June 2024.
  9. Web site: Elton . James . Low voter turnout in Barkly Regional Council election concerns likely new mayor . ABC News . 15 November 2024 . 5 November 2024.
  10. Web site: Upton . Shauna . Barkly region gears up for local council elections . The Wire . 15 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241115121651/https://www.thewire.org.au/story/barkly-region-gears-up-for-local-council-elections/ . 15 November 2024 . 1 November 2024.
  11. Web site: Dianne Stokes . NT Greens . 15 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241014212314/https://greens.org.au/nt/person/dianne-stokes . 14 October 2024.
  12. Web site: How are votes counted? . Northern Territory Electoral Commission . 15 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241027000538/https://ntec.nt.gov.au/voting/how-are-votes-counted . 27 October 2024.
  13. Web site: Northern Territory . Electoral Council of Australia and New Zealand . 15 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241014055402/https://www.ecanz.gov.au/electoral-systems/australia/nt . 14 October 2024.
  14. Web site: Elections . Local Government Association of the Northern Territory . 15 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241016202513/https://lgant.asn.au/about-lg/elections/ . 16 October 2024.
  15. Web site: Perera . Alicia . Today is the NT local government election day. Here's everything you need to know to have your say . ABC News . 15 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240107211946/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-28/nt-local-government-election-day-everything-to-know/100414204 . 7 January 2024 . 28 August 2021.
  16. Web site: Council elections can be confusing . Facebook . Michael Gunner . 15 November 2024 . https://archive.today/20241115115035/https://www.facebook.com/TerritoryChief/posts/pfbid03ftDtaCear4SL4zhwY2dn3GDPpvgWSMGP9NYjiw8rtnktLFExFzVse26U2wyfJCel . 15 November 2024 . 27 August 2021.
  17. Web site: Gunner demands council deal with Mayor's 'conflict of interest' . Alice Springs News . 15 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230323151749/https://alicespringsnews.com.au/2020/01/28/mayors-clp-views-are-his-right-not-a-conflict-of-interest/ . 23 March 2023 . 28 January 2020.
  18. Web site: Wyndham-Kidd . Josh . The Territory is hungry for political alternatives . Australian Greens . 15 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230322153542/https://greens.org.au/magazine/territory-hungry-political-alternatives . 22 March 2023 . 24 September 2021.
  19. Web site: Roberts . Lauren . Darwin Lyons Ward by-election sees poor voter turnout, results expected in coming weeks . ABC News . 12 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240812131433/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-04/darwin-lyons-ward-by-election-shows-poor-voter-turnout/102802486 . 15 November 2024 . 4 September 2023.

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