Local government legislation
This page lists the major legislation that affects local governments in the Northern Territory.
Local Government Act
The Local Government Act provides for local government in the Northern Territory.
Regulations made under the Local Government Act include:
- Local Government (Accounting) Regulations
- Local Government (Administration) Regulations
- Local Government (Electoral) Regulations.
Local government guidelines
Guideline 1 - revoked
Guideline 2: allowances for council members
Previously effective from 6 January 2011 and as replaced on 1 July 2014 to include West Daly Regional Council.
Guideline 2: allowances for council members (96.0 kb).
Table of maximum allowances applicable for 2017-18 (227.1 kb).
Table of maximum allowances applicable for 2018-19 (146.2 kb).
Table of maximum allowances applicable for 2019-20 (73.5 kb).
Refer to General Instruction No. 2 - Council member allowances (832.4 kb).
Guideline 3: appointing a CEO
Guideline 3: appointing a CEO (26.6 kb).
Guideline 4: investments
Guideline 4: investments (162.8 kb).
Guideline 5: borrowing
Guideline 5: borrowing (28.6 kb).
Guideline 6 - revoked
General Instruction Number 1 - conditional rating (1.0 mb).
Guideline 7: disposal of property
Guideline 7: disposal of property (28.3 kb).
Guideline 8: regional councils and local authorities
Guideline 8: regional councils and local authorities (4.7 mb).
Local government general instructions
The Department of Local Government and Regions issues general instructions pursuant to regulation 7 of the Local Government (Accounting) Regulations.
- General Instruction No. 1 - Conditional rating (1.0 mb).
- General Instruction No. 2 - Council member allowances (832.4 kb).
- General Instruction No. 3 - Audit committees (5.7 mb).
- General Instruction No. 4 - Procurement (2.5 mb).
Local government bylaws
Council by-laws are listed on the Department of the Chief Minister's legislation database.
Councils are responsible for making and enforcing their own by-laws.
The Local Government and Community Development Division can assist councils to make, amend or repeal local government by-laws. For assistance please email localgovernment.DHCD@nt.gov.au.
Local government subsidiaries
Section 27 of the Local Government Act provides for councils and the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory to form separate entities known as local government subsidiaries to carry out functions related to local government on behalf of the constituent councils.
Under section 28 of the Act, the Minister for Local Government uses an NT Government Gazette notice to allow a subsidiary to come into existence on a specific date as a body corporate that has the powers and functions conferred or assigned by its constitution.
The constitution of a subsidiary must be approved by the Minister, pursuant to section 29(1).
The Minister has approved the constititution of CouncilBiz. Download the constitution (949.7 kb).
The Minister has approved the constitution of Latitude 12 - East Arnhem Regional Council. Download the constitution (1.1 mb).
Local government archived documents
Archived guideline 8: regional councils and local authorities (90.3 kb).
Table of maximum allowances applicable for 2016-17 (226.9 kb).
Last updated: 11 April 2019