Proposal for councillors to elect all NT mayors instead of voters angers some leadersBy Victoria Ellis and Stewart BrashABC Alice SpringsTopic:Local Elections1h ago1 hours agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 5:06amThe NT government has proposed law changes mandating all mayors be elected by councillors. (ABC News: Xavier La Canna)In short:The Northern Territory government has proposed changing the Local Government Act so that all mayors are elected by councillors instead of voters.The proposal has been criticised by the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory and the Alice Springs mayor.What's next?The territory's government is seeking feedback on the proposal and says no decision have been.abc.net.au/news/proposal-to-change-how-mayors-elected-in-northern-territory/105232740Link copiedShareShare articleThe Local Government Association of the Northern Territory (LGANT) has criticised a proposal to change how council mayors are elected.Currently under the Local Government Act, councils decide prior to elections whether voters elect their mayor, or whether councillors appoint a mayor at their first meeting.But a potential amendment to the act proposes that all NT councils elect their mayor, removing the option for voters to elect their mayor directly. Kon Vatskalis is the president of the LGANT and the City of Darwin's lord mayor. (ABC News: Sowaibah Hanife)LGANT president and Dawin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said he did not know why the change had been proposed."All the examples we've got from down south actually indicate that … it will generate so many problems that the minister and the department will be sorry for doing it," he said."If you look at what happened in Victoria, a lot of the councils are in disarray because of the politics played inside the council to elect mayors."No decisions made yetIn the NT, most regional councils choose to appoint their mayor at the first meeting of council, but Darwin, Palmerston, Litchfield, Katherine, Alice Springs and Barkly's regional councils choose their mayors through popular vote.A discussion paper sent to LGANT and territory councils stated the proposed amendment would "align the NT with most other jurisdictions", would "promote consistency" and "may reduce conflict between elected members and directly elected mayors".However, the paper also asked whether the appointment-only model could "affect the perceived legitimacy, visibility, and representative role" of mayors, if voters did have the right to elect their own.Alice Springs Mayor Matt Paterson says he believes voters will be unhappy the changes become law. (ABC News)Alice Springs Mayor Matt Paterson, who became mayor after winning by two votes in 2021, said the proposed change was a reduction in democracy."I think you want to vote for your leader," he said."I don't think the punters will wear it and I don't think that they'll be real happy about it."Minister for Local Government Steve Edgington says no decisions have been made. (ABC News: Pete Garnish)Minister for Local Government Steve Edgington, who was once the popularly elected mayor for Barkly Regional Council, said the government was seeking feedback on the proposal."What we have is a whole mixed bag of views right around the Northern Territory," he said."We've made no decisions. As the minister, I've certainly made no decisions on what the best way forward is at this point."Posted 1h ago1 hours agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 5:06am, updated 29m ago29 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 5:48amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesFormer PM, expert panel weigh in on Australia's place in the worldLIVEPhoto shows a submarine ship in the ocean Inflation 'clears way' for RBA interest rate cut in MayLIVEPhoto shows RBA buildingHeadline inflation stable at 2.4pc while RBA's preferred measure drops within targetTopic:InflationPhoto shows Cash money in a purse with a calculator, tea towel, list of bills on a notepad and a penThere's a reason Dutton can't resort to a scare campaign with older AustraliansAAnalysis by Annabel CrabbPhoto shows Peter DuttonKooyong corflute kerfuffle headed for court as Liberals cry foul at councilTopic:Federal GovernmentPhoto shows Monique Ryan Amelia Hamer pre-poll signsRelated storiesAlice Springs mayoral race, separated by 17 votes, set for formal reviewTopic:Local GovernmentPhoto shows The lawn of the Alice Springs Town Council building. 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