Leader of the Opposition (Northern Territory)
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English 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.[1]
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.
| # | Opposition Leader[2] | Party | Dates in Opposition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jon Isaacs |
|
21 September 1977 – 1 November 1981 | |
| 2 | Bob Collins |
|
2 November 1981 – 18 August 1986 | |
| 3 | Terry Smith |
|
19 August 1986 – 1 November 1990 | |
| 4 | Brian Ede |
|
2 November 1990 – 9 April 1996 | |
| 5 | Maggie Hickey |
|
16 April 1996 – 2 February 1999 | |
| 6 | Clare Martin |
|
3 February 1999 – 26 August 2001 | |
| 7 | Denis Burke |
|
28 August 2001 – 14 November 2003 | |
| 8 | Terry Mills |
|
15 November 2003 – 4 February 2005 | |
| (7) | Denis Burke |
|
7 February 2005 – 17 June 2005 | |
| 9 | Jodeen Carney |
|
29 June 2005 – 28 January 2008 | |
| (8) | Terry Mills |
|
29 January 2008 – 29 August 2012 | |
| 10 | Delia Lawrie |
|
29 August 2012 – 20 April 2015 | |
| 11 | Michael Gunner |
|
20 April 2015 – 31 August 2016 | |
| 12 | Gary Higgins |
|
2 September 2016 – 1 February 2020 | |
| 13 | Lia Finocchiaro |
|
1 February 2020 – 18 March 2020 | |
| Disputed | 18 March 2020 – 24 March 2020 | |||
| (13) | Lia Finocchiaro |
|
24 March 2020 – 28 August 2024 | |
| 14 | Selena Uibo |
|
3 September 2024 - present | |
2020 opposition leadership dispute
On 18 March 2020 Terry Mills claimed to have become Opposition Leader on the basis of the Territory Alliance now having three MLAs to the Country Liberal Party's two.[3] 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,[4] with Labor MLAs present not voting.[5]
References
Template:Australian opposition leaders Template:Government of the Northern Territory
- ↑ Schools Newsletter, Parliamentary Relations and Education Unit (Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory), June 2010.
- ↑ Office Holders 1st–11th Assemblies, Government of the Northern Territory, 9 February 2009.
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