Commencement of tranche 1 reforms to the Local Government Act
The first tranche of amendments to the Local Government Act 2019 (the Act) and the Local Government (General) Regulations 2021 were passed by the Northern Territory Parliament on 22 May 2025, received the administrator’s assent on 6 June 2025, and are expected to come into force shortly.
These amendments update, clarify and streamline local government operations, ensuring local government systems and process are aligned with best practice across the country.
As part of these reforms, there are a range of changes to the Act you may wish to familiarise yourself with.
1. Prospective councils
Prospective councils are created during periods of transition, such as when local government areas are merged, abolished, or have their boundaries altered. The Local Government Act 2019 was not clear on what the responsibilities and powers a prospective council had at any point in time. The amended Act clarifies the rights, responsibilities, and obligations of prospective councils. Read the factsheet PDF (633.0 KB) for further information on these changes.
2. Elections and casual vacancies
Amendments in this area confirm that the Northern Territory Electoral Commission has the authority to conduct by-elections for casual vacancies that occur between 6 and 18 months before a general election. The amended Act also provides elected members with the flexibility to determine the most appropriate method for filling vacancies in their council. The Act also provides clarity on the reinstatement of members who resign to contest elections for the Legislative Assembly, Commonwealth House of Representative, or the Senate.
3. Publishing requirements for local government notices
Several amendments aim to modernise communications practices for local government, increasing public accessibility. These include:
- Removing the requirement to publish certain notices, such as budget-related information, in newspapers. Council can now publish these notices on their website.
- Removing the requirement to post notices on boards at council offices, although councils can still do so if they wish.
- Removing the requirement to publish public newspaper notifications for a council’s draft plan and annual report. These can now be published on the council’s website.
- Similar updates to notices regarding meeting postponements and calling meetings of electors.
4. Miscellaneous other amendments
These involve:
- extending the required advertising period for a CEO vacancy from 6 to 8 weeks, plus a further provision that allows the CEO of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Community Development to further extend the advertising period in exceptional circumstances.
- Clarifying that councils must first pass a resolution on general rates before proceeding to pass a separate resolution on a proposed budget.
- clarifying that compliance reports should be delivered both to the CEO and the principal member of the council
- Confirms that suspended elected members are not entitled to any remuneration, allowances or other benefits during the period of suspension.
These amendments are just the first tranche of changes and will be followed by further, more extensive reforms after public consultation. Three detailed discussion papers, which outline these more in-depth proposed reforms, have been released for public consultation.
To read the discussion papers and provide feedback by 30 June 2025, go to the Have Your Say NT website.
You can also attend public consultation sessions on these reforms being held around the Territory. To find out more and register, go to the Local Government website.
