View source for Chief Minister of the Northern Territory

{{Short description|Head of the Northern Territory}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Chief Minister
| body = the<br>Northern Territory
| insignia = Northern Territory Coat of Arms.svg
| insigniasize = 120px
| insigniacaption = [[Coat of arms of the Northern Territory]]
| flag = Flag of the Northern Territory.svg
| flagsize = 120px
| flagcaption = [[Flag of the Northern Territory]]
| image = Lia Finocchiaro Profile.jpg
| imagesize = 200px
| imagecaption = 
| incumbent = [[Lia Finocchiaro]]
| acting = 
| incumbentsince = 28 August 2024
| department = Department of the Chief Minister
| style = [[The Honourable]]
| status = [[Head of government]]
| abbreviation = CM
| member_of = {{hlist|[[Parliament of the Northern Territory|Parliament]]|[[National Cabinet (Australia)|National Cabinet]]|[[Giles Ministry|Cabinet]]|Executive Council}}
| reports_to = [[Parliament of the Northern Territory|Parliament]]
| residence = 
| seat = [[Darwin, Northern Territory]]
| nominator = 
| appointer = [[Administrator of the Northern Territory]]
| appointer_qualified = <small>by [[Convention (norm)#Government|convention]], based on appointee's ability to [[Parliamentary system|command confidence]] in the [[Northern Territory Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]]</small>
| termlength = [[At the Administrator's pleasure]]
| termlength_qualified = <small>contingent on the chief minister's ability to [[Parliamentary system|command confidence]] in the house of Parliament</small>
| constituting_instrument = {{nowrap|None ([[Constitutional convention (political custom)|constitutional convention]])}}
| precursor = 
| formation = {{nowrap|19 October 1974 as ''Majority Leader''}}<br>1 July 1978 as chief minister
| first = [[Goff Letts]] as ''Majority Leader''<br>[[Paul Everingham]] as chief minister
| deputy = [[Deputy Chief Minister of the Northern Territory]]
| salary = A$325,392<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tyeson |first1=Cam |title=Here's How Much Every State Premier Gets Paid If You Wanna Get Boomer-Tier Mad About Yr Taxes |url=https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/state-territory-leader-salaries/ |website=Pedestrian |access-date=26 June 2022 |date=1 June 2021}}</ref>
| website = [https://chiefminister.nt.gov.au/ www.chiefminister.nt.gov.au]
}}
The '''chief minister of the Northern Territory''' is the [[head of government]] of the [[Northern Territory]]. The office is the equivalent of a [[Premiers of the Australian states|state premier]].  
When the [[Northern Territory Legislative Assembly]] was created in 1974, the head of government was officially known as '''majority leader'''. This title was used in the first parliament (1974–1977) and the first eighteen months of the second. When the Northern Territory acquired limited self-government in 1978, the title of the head of government became chief minister with greatly expanded powers, though still somewhat less than those of a state premier.

The chief minister is formally appointed by the [[Administrator of the Northern Territory of Australia|administrator]], who in normal circumstances will appoint the head of whichever party holds the majority of seats in the [[unicameral]] Legislative Assembly. In times of constitutional crisis, the administrator can appoint someone else as chief minister, though this has never occurred.

Since 28 August 2024, following the [[2024 Northern Territory general election]], the chief minister is [[Lia Finocchiaro]] of the [[Country Liberal Party]]. She is the fourth female chief minister of the Northern Territory.

==History==
The Country Liberal Party won the [[1974 Northern Territory general election|first Northern Territory election on 19 October 1974]] and elected [[Goff Letts]] majority leader. He headed an Executive that carried out most of the functions of a ministry at the state level.  At the [[1977 Northern Territory general election|1977 election]] Letts lost his seat and party leadership. He was succeeded on 13 August 1977 by [[Paul Everingham]] (CLP) as Majority Leader. When the Territory attained self-government on 1 July 1978, Everingham became chief minister and his Executive became a Ministry.

Despite the Majority Leader's title, the Majority Leader's opposite number was not known as Minority Leader but instead the Leader of the Opposition.

In 2001, [[Clare Martin]] became the first Labor and female chief minister of the Northern Territory. Until 2004 the conduct of elections and drawing of electoral boundaries was performed by the Northern Territory Electoral Office, a unit of the Department of the chief minister. In March 2004 the independent [[Northern Territory Electoral Commission]] was established.

In 2013, Mills was replaced as chief minister and CLP leader by [[Adam Giles]] at the [[Country Liberal Party leadership spill, 2013|2013 CLP leadership ballot]] on 13 March to become the first [[indigenous Australian]] to lead a state or territory government in Australia.<ref name="abc.net.au">{{cite news| url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-13/terry-mills-dumped-as-nt-leader/4570820| title = Mills dumped as Giles takes top Territory job| newspaper = ABC News| date = 13 March 2013}}</ref>

Following the [[2016 Northern Territory general election|2016 election]] landslide outcome, Labor's [[Michael Gunner]] became chief minister; he was the first Chief Minister who was born in the Northern Territory. On 10 May 2022, Gunner announced his intention to resign.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-05-10 |title=Michael Gunner resigns as NT Chief Minister to spend more time with family, newborn |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-10/nt-chief-minister-michael-gunner-quits/101052528 |access-date=2022-05-12}}</ref> On 13 May 2022, [[Natasha Fyles]] was elected to the position by the Labor caucus.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-05-13 |title=Northern Territory Chief Minister revealed after shock resignation of Michael Gunner |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-13/nt-labor-selects-new-chief-minister-after-gunner-resignation/101062564 |access-date=2022-05-13}}</ref> On 19 December 2023, Fyles resigned following controversy over undeclared shares in mining company [[South32]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cox |first=Lisa |last2=Press |first2=Australian Associated |date=2023-12-19 |title=NT chief minister Natasha Fyles resigns after failing to disclose mining shares worth $2,000 |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/19/nt-chief-minister-natasha-fyles-resignation-calls-pressure-why-undisclosed-shares |access-date=2023-12-21 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> On 21 December 2023, [[Eva Lawler]] replaced Fyles by a unanimous decision of the Labor caucus.

==List of chief ministers of the Northern Territory==
From the foundation of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly in 1974 until the granting of self-government in 1978, the head of government was known as the majority leader:

; Political parties
{{legend|{{party color|Country Liberal Party}}|[[Country Liberal Party]] (CLP)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|{{party color|Australian Labor Party}}|[[Territory Labor Party]] (TL)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="2" |{{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! rowspan="2" |Portrait
! rowspan="2" |Name<br><small>Electoral division<br>(Birth–death)</small>
! rowspan="2" |Election
! colspan="3" |Term of office
! rowspan="2" |Political party
! rowspan="2" |Executive
! rowspan="2" |Administrator
|-
! width="90px" |Term start
! width="90px" |Term end
! width="50px" |Time in office
|-
! rowspan="2" {{Australian party style|CLP}} | 1
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Goff_Letts.jpg|111x111px]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Goff Letts]]<br><small>MLA for [[Electoral division of Victoria River|Victoria River]]</small><br><small>(1928–2023)</small>
| rowspan="2" |[[1974 Northern Territory general election|1974]]
| rowspan="2" |19 October<br>1974
| rowspan="2" |12 August<br>1977
| rowspan="2" |{{Age in years and days|1974|10|19|1977|8|12}}
| rowspan="2" |[[Country Liberal Party|CLP]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Letts Executive|Letts]]
|[[Jock Nelson]]<br><small>(1973–1975)</small>
|-
| rowspan="2" |''None''<br><small>(1975–1978)</small>
|- style="height:65px"
! rowspan="2" {{Australian party style|CLP}} | 2
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Paul_Everingham.jpg|131x131px]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Paul Everingham]]<br><small>MLA for [[Electoral division of Jingili|Jingili]]</small><br><small>(born 1943)</small>
| rowspan="2" |[[1977 Northern Territory general election|1977]]
| rowspan="2" |13 August<br>1977
| rowspan="2" |30 June<br>1978
| rowspan="2" |{{Age in years and days|1977|8|13|1978|6|30}}
| rowspan="2" |[[Country Liberal Party|CLP]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Everingham Executive|Everingham]]
|-
|[[John England (politician)|John England]]<br><small>(1978–1981)</small>
|}

From 1978, the position was known as the chief minister:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="2" |No.
! rowspan="2" |Portrait
! rowspan="2" |Name<br><small>Electoral division<br>(Birth–death)</small>
! rowspan="2" |Election
! colspan="3" |Term of office
! rowspan="2" |Political party
! rowspan="2" |Ministry
! rowspan="2" |Administrator
|-
! width="90px" |Term start
! width="90px" |Term end
! width="50px" |Time in office
|-
! rowspan="4" {{Australian party style|CLP}}  | 1
| rowspan="4" |[[File:Paul_Everingham.jpg|132x132px]]
| rowspan="4" |[[Paul Everingham]]<br><small>MLA for [[Electoral division of Jingili|Jingili]]</small><br><small>(born 1943)</small>
|—
| rowspan="4" |1 July<br>1978
| rowspan="4" |15 October<br>1984
| rowspan="4" |{{Age in years and days|1978|7|1|1984|10|15}}
| rowspan="4" |[[Country Liberal Party|CLP]]
| rowspan="4" |[[Everingham Ministry|Everingham]]
| rowspan="2" |[[John England (politician)|John England]]<br><small>(1978–1981)</small>
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[1980 Northern Territory general election|1980]]
|-
| rowspan="6" |[[Eric Johnston (NT Administrator)|Eric Johnston]]<br><small>(1981–1989)</small>
|-
|[[1983 Northern Territory general election|1983]]
|-
! {{Australian party style|CLP}} | 2
|[[File:Ian_Tuxworth_cropped_portrait.jpg|100x100px]]
|[[Ian Tuxworth]]<br><small>MLA for [[Electoral division of Barkly|Barkly]]</small><br><small>(1942–2020)</small>
|—
|16 October<br>1984
|13 May<br>1986
|{{Age in years and days|1984|10|16|1986|5|13}}
|[[Country Liberal Party|CLP]]
|[[Tuxworth Ministry|Tuxworth]]
|-
! rowspan="2" {{Australian party style|CLP}} | 3
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Stephen_Hatton_Potrait.jpg|155x155px]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Stephen Hatton]]<br><small>MLA for [[Electoral division of Nightcliff|Nightcliff]]</small><br><small>(born 1948)</small>
|—
| rowspan="2" |14 May<br>1986
| rowspan="2" |12 July<br>1988
| rowspan="2" |{{Age in years and days|1986|5|14|1988|7|12}}
| rowspan="2" |[[Country Liberal Party|CLP]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Hatton Ministry|Hatton]]
|-
|[[1987 Northern Territory general election|1987]]
|-style="height:25px"
! rowspan="5" {{Australian party style|CLP}} | 4
| rowspan="5" |[[File:Marshall_Perron_-_Library_&_Archives_NT_(PH0730-1372).jpg|155x155px]]
| rowspan="5" |[[Marshall Perron]]<br><small>MLA for [[Electoral division of Fannie Bay|Fannie Bay]]</small><br><small>(born 1942)</small>
| rowspan="2" |—
| rowspan="5" |13 July<br>1988
| rowspan="5" |24 May<br>1995
| rowspan="5" |{{Age in years and days|1988|7|13|1995|5|24}}
| rowspan="5" |[[Country Liberal Party|CLP]]
| rowspan="5" |[[Perron Ministry|Perron]]
|-style="height:25px"
| rowspan="2" |[[James Muirhead (judge)|James Muirhead]]<br><small>(1989–1993)</small>
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[1990 Northern Territory general election|1990]]
|-style="height:25px"
| rowspan="4" |[[Austin Asche]]<br><small>(1993–1997)</small>
|-
|[[1994 Northern Territory general election|1994]]
|-
! rowspan="3" {{Australian party style|CLP}} | 5
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Shane_Stone_(cropped).jpg|148x148px]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Shane Stone]]<br><small>MLA for [[Electoral division of Port Darwin|Port Darwin]]</small><br><small>(born 1950)</small>
|—
| rowspan="3" |25 May<br>1995
| rowspan="3" |7 February<br>1999
| rowspan="3" |{{Age in years and days|1995|5|25|1999|2|7}}
| rowspan="3" |[[Country Liberal Party|CLP]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Stone Ministry|Stone]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[1997 Northern Territory general election|1997]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Neil Conn]]<br><small>(1997–2000)</small>
|-style="height:74px"
! rowspan="2" {{Australian party style|CLP}} | 6
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Denis_Burke_in_2001.jpg|152x152px]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Denis Burke (Australian politician)|Denis Burke]]<br><small>MLA for [[Electoral division of Brennan|Brennan]]</small><br><small>(born 1948)</small>
| rowspan="2" |—
| rowspan="2" |8 February<br>1999
| rowspan="2" |27 August<br>2001
| rowspan="2" |{{Age in years and days|1999|2|8|2001|8|27}}
| rowspan="2" |[[Country Liberal Party|CLP]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Burke Ministry (Northern Territory)|Burke]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[John Anictomatis]]<br><small>(2000–2003)</small>
|-style="height:25px"
! rowspan="4" style="background:{{party color|Australian Labor Party}}; | 7
| rowspan="4" |[[File:Clare Martin in 2001.jpg|147x147px]]
| rowspan="4" |[[Clare Martin]]<br><small>MLA for [[Electoral division of Fannie Bay|Fannie Bay]]</small><br><small>(born 1952)</small>
| rowspan="2" |[[2001 Northern Territory general election|2001]]
| rowspan="4" |27 August<br>2001
| rowspan="4" |26 November<br>2007
| rowspan="4" |{{Age in years and days|2001|8|27|2007|11|26}}
| rowspan="4" |[[Australian Labor Party (Northern Territory Branch)|TL]]
| rowspan="4" |[[Martin Ministry|Martin]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Ted Egan]]<br><small>(2003–2007)</small>
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[2005 Northern Territory general election|2005]]
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Tom Pauling (barrister)|Tom Pauling]]<br><small>(2007–2011)</small>
|-
! rowspan="3" style="background:{{party color|Australian Labor Party}}; | 8
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Paul_Henderson_in_2001.jpg|152x152px]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Paul Henderson (politician)|Paul Henderson]]<br><small>MLA for [[Electoral division of Wanguri|Wanguri]]</small><br><small>(born 1962)</small>
|—
| rowspan="3" |26 November<br>2007
| rowspan="3" |28 August<br>2012
| rowspan="3" |{{Age in years and days|2007|11|26|2012|8|28}}
| rowspan="3" |[[Australian Labor Party (Northern Territory Branch)|TL]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Henderson Ministry|Henderson]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[2008 Northern Territory general election|2008]]
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Sally Thomas]]<br><small>(2011–2014)</small>
|-
! {{Australian party style|CLP}} | 9
|[[File:Terry_Mills_in_2005_(cropped).jpg|135x135px]]
|[[Terry Mills (Australian politician)|Terry Mills]]<br><small>MLA for [[Electoral division of Blain|Blain]]</small><br><small>(born 1957)</small>
|[[2012 Northern Territory general election|2012]]
|29 August<br>2012
|13 March<br>2013
|{{Age in years and days|2012|8|29|2013|3|13}}
|[[Country Liberal Party|CLP]]
|[[Mills Ministry|Mills]]
|-style="height:69px"
! rowspan="2" {{Australian party style|CLP}} | 10
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Adam_Giles_Portrait_2015.jpg|137x137px]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Adam Giles]]<br><small>MLA for [[Electoral division of Braitling|Braitling]]</small><br><small>(born 1973)</small>
| rowspan="2" |—
| rowspan="2" |14 March<br>2013
| rowspan="2" |30 August<br>2016
| rowspan="2" |{{Age in years and days|2013|3|14|2016|8|30}}
| rowspan="2" |[[Country Liberal Party|CLP]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Giles Ministry|Giles]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[John Hardy (aviator)|John Hardy]]<br><small>(2014–2017)</small>
|-style="height:45px"
! rowspan="3" style="background:{{party color|Australian Labor Party}}; | 11
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Michael_Gunner_shakes_hands_with_Adm._Harry_Harris_(cropped).jpg|135x135px]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Michael Gunner]]<br><small>MLA for [[Electoral division of Fannie Bay|Fannie Bay]]</small><br><small>(born 1976)</small>
| rowspan="2" |[[2016 Northern Territory general election|2016]]
| rowspan="3" |31 August<br>2016
| rowspan="3" |13 May<br>2022
| rowspan="3" |{{Age in years and days|2016|8|31|2022|5|13}}
| rowspan="3" |[[Australian Labor Party (Northern Territory Branch)|TL]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Gunner Ministry|Gunner]]
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Vicki O'Halloran]]<br><small>(2017–2023)</small>
|-
|[[2020 Northern Territory general election|2020]]
|-style="height:65px"
! rowspan="2" style="background:{{party color|Australian Labor Party}}; | 12
| rowspan="2" |[[File:FylesPortrait_(cropped).png|135x135px]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Natasha Fyles]]<br><small>MLA for [[Electoral division of Nightcliff|Nightcliff]]</small><br><small>(born 1978)</small>
| rowspan="2" |—
| rowspan="2" |13 May<br>2022
| rowspan="2" |21 December<br>2023
| rowspan="2" |{{Age in years and days|2022|5|13|2023|12|21}}
| rowspan="2" |[[Australian Labor Party (Northern Territory Branch)|TL]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Fyles Ministry|Fyles]]
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Hugh Heggie]]<br><small>(since 2023)</small>
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Australian Labor Party}}; | 13
| [[File:EvaLawler2023cropped.jpg|145x145px]]
|[[Eva Lawler]]<br><small>MLA for [[Electoral division of Drysdale|Drysdale]]</small><br><small>(born 1962)</small>
|—
|21 December<br>2023
|28 August 2024 
|{{Age in years and days|2023|12|21|2024|08|28}}
|[[Australian Labor Party (Northern Territory Branch)|TL]]
|[[Lawler ministry|Lawler]]
|-style="height:69px"
! rowspan="2" {{Australian party style|CLP}} | 14
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Lia Finocchiaro Profile.jpg|137x137px]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Lia Finocchiaro]]<br><small>MLA for [[Electoral division of Spillett|Spillett]]</small><br><small>(born 1984)</small>
| rowspan="2" |[[2024 Northern Territory general election|2024]]
| rowspan="2" |28 August 2024
| rowspan="2" |''Incumbent''
| rowspan="2" |{{Age in years and days|2024|08|28}}
| rowspan="2" |[[Country Liberal Party|CLP]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Finocchiaro ministry|Finocchiaro]]
|}

== See also ==
* [[List of chief ministers of the Northern Territory by time in office]]
* [[Territory rig]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.nt.gov.au/lant/members-of-parliament/OFFICE%20HOLDERS%201ST-11TH.pdf Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory 1974–2012 – Office Holders]

{{Australian premiers}}
{{Northern Territory ministerial portfolios}}
{{Government of the Northern Territory}}
{{Politics of the Northern Territory}}

[[Category:Chief ministers of the Northern Territory|*]]
[[Category:Lists of heads of government of Australian states and territories|Northern Territory]]
[[Category:Northern Territory-related lists]]
[[Category:Northern Territory ministries]]