View source for Leader of the Opposition (Northern Territory)

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2016}}
The '''leader of the opposition''' is an official role usually occupied by the leader of the second largest party in the [[Northern Territory Legislative Assembly]]. In the event that party wins an election, the leader of the opposition will most likely become the [[Chief Minister of the Northern Territory|chief minister]].<ref>[http://www.nt.gov.au/lant/Parliaison/2010%20June%20Newsletter.pdf Schools Newsletter], Parliamentary Relations and Education Unit (Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory), June 2010.</ref>

While the Legislative Assembly was created in 1974, there was no parliamentary opposition for the first three-year term, as every seat was held by the government, with the exception of two that were won by independents.

Even though the leader of the government between 1974 and 1978 was known as majority leader, the position of leader of the opposition was always named as such for the leader of the opposing party and never as minority leader.

{| class="wikitable"
! #
! Opposition Leader<ref>[http://www.nt.gov.au/lant/pub/OFFICE%20HOLDERS%201ST-11TH.pdf Office Holders 1st–11th Assemblies], [[Government of the Northern Territory]], 9 February 2009.</ref>
! colspan=2|Party
! Dates in Opposition
|-
| 1
| [[Jon Isaacs]]
| {{Party name with colour|Australian Labor Party (Northern Territory Branch)}}
| 21 September 1977 – 1 November 1981
|- 
| 2
| [[Bob Collins (Australian politician)|Bob Collins]]
| {{Party name with colour|Australian Labor Party (Northern Territory Branch)}}
| 2 November 1981 – 18 August 1986
|- 
| 3
| [[Terry Smith (politician)|Terry Smith]]
| {{Party name with colour|Australian Labor Party (Northern Territory Branch)}}
| 19 August 1986 – 1 November 1990
|- 
| 4
| [[Brian Ede]]
| {{Party name with colour|Australian Labor Party (Northern Territory Branch)}}
| 2 November 1990 – 9 April 1996
|- 
| 5
| [[Maggie Hickey]]
| {{Party name with colour|Australian Labor Party (Northern Territory Branch)}}
| 16 April 1996 – 2 February 1999
|- 
| 6
| [[Clare Martin]]
| {{Party name with colour|Australian Labor Party (Northern Territory Branch)}}
| 3 February 1999 – 26 August 2001
|- 
| 7
| [[Denis Burke (Australian politician)|Denis Burke]]
| {{Party name with colour|Country Liberal Party}}
| 28 August 2001 – 14 November 2003
|- 
| 8
| [[Terry Mills (Australian politician)|Terry Mills]]
| {{Party name with colour|Country Liberal Party}}
| 15 November 2003 – 4 February 2005
|- 
| (7)
| [[Denis Burke (Australian politician)|Denis Burke]]
| {{Party name with colour|Country Liberal Party}}
| 7 February 2005 – 17 June 2005
|- 
| 9
| [[Jodeen Carney]]
| {{Party name with colour|Country Liberal Party}}
| 29 June 2005 – 28 January 2008
|- 
| (8)
| [[Terry Mills (Australian politician)|Terry Mills]]
| {{Party name with colour|Country Liberal Party}}
| 29 January 2008 – 29 August 2012
|- 
| 10
| [[Delia Lawrie]]
| {{Party name with colour|Australian Labor Party (Northern Territory Branch)}}
| 29 August 2012 – 20 April 2015
|- 
| 11
| [[Michael Gunner]]
| {{Party name with colour|Australian Labor Party (Northern Territory Branch)}}
| 20 April 2015 – 31 August 2016
|- 
| 12
| [[Gary Higgins]]
| {{Party name with colour|Country Liberal Party}}
| 2 September 2016 – 1 February 2020
|- 
| 13
| [[Lia Finocchiaro]]
| {{Party name with colour|Country Liberal Party}}
| 1 February 2020 – 18 March 2020
|-
|
| colspan=3|''Disputed''
|18 March 2020 – 24 March 2020
|-
| (13)
| [[Lia Finocchiaro]]
| {{Party name with colour|Country Liberal Party}}
| 24 March 2020 – 28 August 2024
|-
|14
|[[Selena Uibo]]
| {{Party name with colour|Australian Labor Party (Northern Territory Branch)}}
|3 September 2024 - present
|-
|}

==2020 opposition leadership dispute==

On 18 March 2020 [[Terry Mills (Australian politician)|Terry Mills]] claimed to have become Opposition Leader on the basis of the [[Territory Alliance]] now having three MLAs to the [[Country Liberal Party|Country Liberal Party's]] two.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/robyn-lambley-joins-terry-mills-territory-alliance-sets-up-almighty-clp-showdown/news-story/b1a09c5f1a7595e96d222b9357b1435e|title = Territory Alliance says it has taken NT Opposition status|accessdate = 24 Mar 2020}}</ref>  No motion acknowledging a change in the office was passed by the Assembly.  On 24 March 2020 Mills presented a shadow Cabinet to the Assembly and was initially referred to as leader of the opposition, without formal motion.  However, later that day [[Lia Finocchiaro]] moved that the office of leader of the opposition be declared vacant as it was "unclear" who the "official opposition" was, and that a secret ballot between the two be held to determine Opposition Leader status.  The motion was passed and Finocchiaro won the ballot 5–3,<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.territorystories.nt.gov.au/jspui/bitstream/10070/756617/5/Draft%20Daily%20Hansard%20-%20Tuesday%2024%20March%202020   |title = Draft Daily Hansard 24 March 2020 |accessdate = 24 Mar 2020}}</ref> with Labor MLAs present not voting.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/clp-returned-as-nt-opposition-in-shock-ballot/news-story/1988ca7d6053697d7ceda139076ff623|title = CLP returned as NT Opposition in shock ballot|accessdate = 24 Mar 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Australian opposition leaders}}
{{Government of the Northern Territory}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leader Of The Opposition (Northern Territory)}}
[[Category:Lists of leaders of the opposition of Australian states and territories|Northern Territory]]
[[Category:Members of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly| ]]
[[Category:Leaders of the opposition in the Northern Territory| ]]