Discover

In Australia, a 'Chief Minister' is the head of government of a self-governing territory, while the head of government of a state is a Premier.
The Chief Minister is appointed by the Administrator of the Northern Territory, who in normal circumstances will appoint the head of whatever party holds the majority of seats in the legislature of the territory (in the Northern Territory, the Legislative Assembly). However, in times of constitutional crisis the Administrator can appoint someone else as Chief Minister.

Contents

Chief Ministers of the Northern Territory

Chief Ministers of the Northern Territory

'Chief Minister'	'Party'	'Period in office'
Dr Goff Letts 1	Country Liberal Party	1974 - 1977
Paul Everingham	Country Liberal Party	1977 - 1984
Ian Tuxworth	Country Liberal Party	1984 - 1986
Stephen Hatton	Country Liberal Party	1986 - 1988
Marshall Perron	Country Liberal Party	1988 - 1995
Shane Stone	Country Liberal Party	1995 - 1999
Denis Burke	Country Liberal Party	1999 - 2001
Clare Martin	Australian Labor Party	2001 - present

:¹ While the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly was created in 1974, self-government was not granted until 1978. As a result, members of the executive in the first parliament (1974-1977) and the first eighteen months of the second were known by alternative titles. While Dr Goff Letts and his successor Paul Everingham were officially known as Majority Leaders, their function was effectively the same as that of a Chief Minister from 1978.