Leaders slam controversial plan removing voter right to elect mayors
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When it comes to local government, most Aussies would agree that having a say in who leads your community is a fundamental right.
But a new proposal has sparked outrage among some local leaders and residents.
It could see the power to elect mayors taken out of the hands of everyday voters and handed over to councillors instead.
Currently, under the Local Government Act in the NT, each council can decide whether the mayor is chosen directly by voters (a popular vote) or appointed by councillors at their first meeting before an election.
This means that in some areas, you get to tick the box for your preferred mayoral candidate; in others, the elected councillors make the decision behind closed doors.
But now, there’s a push to change the rules so that all NT mayors would be chosen by councillors, not by the public. If this amendment goes ahead, the option for a direct vote would disappear entirely.
The Local Government Association of the Northern Territory (LGANT) and several mayors have criticised the proposal.
Kon Vatskalis, the president of LGANT and the Lord Mayor of Darwin, is baffled by the move and warns it could create more problems than it solves.
‘All the examples we’ve got from down south indicate that…it will generate so many problems that the minister and the department will be sorry for doing it,’ he said, pointing to Victoria as an example where internal council politics have led to chaos and instability.
Alice Springs Mayor Matt Paterson, who only just scraped through to victory by two votes in 2021, is also concerned.
He sees the proposal as a step backwards for democracy: ‘I think you want to vote for your leader. I don’t think the punters will wear it, and I don’t think that they’ll be real happy about it.’
A discussion paper sent to councils and LGANT claims the change would bring the NT in line with most other states and territories, promote consistency, and potentially reduce conflict between mayors and councillors.
If councillors choose the mayor, there might be less friction and more teamwork at the top.
However, the same paper also acknowledges the risk that this could make mayors seem less legitimate or visible to the public and weaken their role as true representatives of the people.
Across the country, there’s a real mix of how mayors are chosen. In New South Wales and Victoria, for example, most mayors are appointed by councillors, but some larger cities (like Sydney and Melbourne) have directly elected lord mayors. Queensland, on the other hand, has a strong tradition of direct mayoral elections.
Supporters of the appointment model argue it can lead to more stable councils and less grandstanding.
At the same time, critics say it takes power away from the people and can lead to backroom deals and political gamesmanship.
If you live in Darwin, Palmerston, Litchfield, Katherine, Alice Springs, or Barkly, you can vote directly for your mayor.
If the proposed changes go through, that right could be taken away, and your mayor would be chosen by the councillors you elect instead.
For many, this feels like a loss of control over who represents their community at the highest local level.
It also raises questions about transparency and accountability—after all, it’s much easier to hold someone to account when you’ve had a direct say in putting them there!
The NT Minister for Local Government, Steve Edgington, says no decisions have been made, and the government is still seeking feedback from the community.
‘What we have is a whole mixed bag of views right around the Northern Territory,’ he said.
This means there’s still time for your voice to be heard. If you feel strongly about how your mayor should be chosen, now’s the time to speak up—contact your local council, write to your MP, or join the conversation online.
For many over-60s, local government is the level of politics that directly affects our daily lives—think rates, rubbish collection, community centres, and local parks.
Having a say in who leads your council can make a real difference in the services and support you receive.
Do you believe mayors should be elected directly by the people, or is it better for councillors to choose among themselves? Have you had good or bad experiences with either system? We’d love to hear your thoughts—share your opinion in the comments below.
But a new proposal has sparked outrage among some local leaders and residents.
It could see the power to elect mayors taken out of the hands of everyday voters and handed over to councillors instead.
Currently, under the Local Government Act in the NT, each council can decide whether the mayor is chosen directly by voters (a popular vote) or appointed by councillors at their first meeting before an election.
This means that in some areas, you get to tick the box for your preferred mayoral candidate; in others, the elected councillors make the decision behind closed doors.
A change to the Local Government Act has been proposed by the Northern Territory government so councillors, not voters, would elect mayors. Credit: Depositphotos
But now, there’s a push to change the rules so that all NT mayors would be chosen by councillors, not by the public. If this amendment goes ahead, the option for a direct vote would disappear entirely.
The Local Government Association of the Northern Territory (LGANT) and several mayors have criticised the proposal.
Kon Vatskalis, the president of LGANT and the Lord Mayor of Darwin, is baffled by the move and warns it could create more problems than it solves.
‘All the examples we’ve got from down south indicate that…it will generate so many problems that the minister and the department will be sorry for doing it,’ he said, pointing to Victoria as an example where internal council politics have led to chaos and instability.
Alice Springs Mayor Matt Paterson, who only just scraped through to victory by two votes in 2021, is also concerned.
He sees the proposal as a step backwards for democracy: ‘I think you want to vote for your leader. I don’t think the punters will wear it, and I don’t think that they’ll be real happy about it.’
A discussion paper sent to councils and LGANT claims the change would bring the NT in line with most other states and territories, promote consistency, and potentially reduce conflict between mayors and councillors.
If councillors choose the mayor, there might be less friction and more teamwork at the top.
However, the same paper also acknowledges the risk that this could make mayors seem less legitimate or visible to the public and weaken their role as true representatives of the people.
Across the country, there’s a real mix of how mayors are chosen. In New South Wales and Victoria, for example, most mayors are appointed by councillors, but some larger cities (like Sydney and Melbourne) have directly elected lord mayors. Queensland, on the other hand, has a strong tradition of direct mayoral elections.
Supporters of the appointment model argue it can lead to more stable councils and less grandstanding.
At the same time, critics say it takes power away from the people and can lead to backroom deals and political gamesmanship.
If you live in Darwin, Palmerston, Litchfield, Katherine, Alice Springs, or Barkly, you can vote directly for your mayor.
For many, this feels like a loss of control over who represents their community at the highest local level.
It also raises questions about transparency and accountability—after all, it’s much easier to hold someone to account when you’ve had a direct say in putting them there!
The NT Minister for Local Government, Steve Edgington, says no decisions have been made, and the government is still seeking feedback from the community.
‘What we have is a whole mixed bag of views right around the Northern Territory,’ he said.
This means there’s still time for your voice to be heard. If you feel strongly about how your mayor should be chosen, now’s the time to speak up—contact your local council, write to your MP, or join the conversation online.
Having a say in who leads your council can make a real difference in the services and support you receive.
