Australia Yearbook - 2001

68 Year Book Australia 2001
Territory government
Self-governing
The Australian Capital Territory and the Northern
Territory are self-governing polities with powers
almost matching those of the original States. The
Northern Territory has been working towards full
Statehood, though a referendum on the question
was rejected by Northern Territory voters in 1998.
Norfolk Island controls its own treasury and raises
revenue under its own system of laws. Generally,
Commonwealth laws do not apply to Norfolk
Island unless expressed to do so, but where any
Norfolk Island legislation is in conflict with
ordinances made by the Governor-General, such
legislation is deemed null and void. Norfolk
Islanders may enrol for Commonwealth elections
in the electoral division they nominate, with
some exceptions.
The Northern Territory and Norfolk Island both
have an Administrator of the Territory, appointed
by the Governor-General (table 2.13).
2.13 ADMINISTRATORS, Territories—June 2000
Territory
Administrator
Northern Territory His Honour Dr Neil Raymond Conn, AO
Norfolk Island
His Honour Anthony J. Messner
Source: Department of the Parliamentary Library.
The Australian Capital Territory has neither
Administrator nor Governor.
Each Territory has an elected Legislative
Assembly, with a wide range of powers. Each
Territory has a government headed by a Chief
Minister (table 2.14). The Northern Territory and
the Australian Capital Territory have an
Opposition headed by an Opposition Leader
(table 2.15).
2.14 CHIEF MINISTERS,
Territories—October 2000
Territory
Chief Minister
Northern Territory The Hon. D. G. Burke, MLA (CLP)
Australian Capital
Territory
The Hon. G. Humphries, MLA (LP)
Norfolk Island
G. C. Smith
Source: Department of the Parliamentary Library.
2.15 OPPOSITION LEADERS,
Territories—June 2000
Territory
Opposition Leader
Northern Territory
S. J. Stirling, MLA (ALP)
Australian Capital Territory J. Stanhope, MLA (ALP)
Source: Department of the Parliamentary Library.
Non self-governing
Jervis Bay Territory, and the external territories of
the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island,
Coral Sea Islands and Ashmore and Cartier
Islands make up the non self-governing
Territories of Australia.
The resident communities in each of Jervis Bay
Territory, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and
Christmas Island are provided with an extensive
range of government services. Each of the Cocos
(Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island has an
elected local government, and residents may vote
in Commonwealth Parliamentary elections in the
electoral division of Lingiari. Residents of Jervis
Bay are enrolled in the electoral division of
Fraser, ACT.
Local government
Local government has a limited constitutional
position in Australia, being organised under State
or Territory legislation upon broadly similar lines
across Australia. The main variation is the
existence of various councils in the Northern
Territory that are based on rural Aboriginal
communities. There are no local councils in the
Australian Capital Territory, where the Territory
Government has direct responsibility for local
services. Local government in Australia is unlike
that in many other political systems, for it
provides an unusually narrow range of services.
Each State and the Northern Territory has a
number of local government areas, known
variously as cities, towns, municipalities,
boroughs, shires or districts. The generic local
body is the council. In October 1999 there were
730 local councils. Most councillors and aldermen
are elected by local residents, though councils
may be dismissed by State Governments and
occasionally are.
Within each local government area various local
services are provided, though there are many
variations between States as well as between
urban and rural councils. The Brisbane City
Council is responsible for the provision of
services across most of Brisbane; by contrast,
many small rural councils provide a relatively
small number of services. Among the local
responsibilities are the management of health,
sanitary and garbage services, road, street and
bridge construction, water supply and sewerage,
museums, fire brigades, harbour services and
local libraries. The scope of local government
duties differs a great deal around the nation, for
in all States many of these duties are performed
either directly by the State Government or