21-760: The AustralAsia Railway Corporation (AARC) was established in 1997 by the Government of the Northern Territory to build the Alice Springs to Darwin section of the Adelaide-Darwin Railway . The Government of South Australia holds 50% of its board positions and voting rights. It owns some of the infrastructure of the Alice Springs to Darwin railway and the lease of the Tarcoola to Alice Springs railway from
42-627: A COAG meeting on 13 March 2020, it was announced that a new National Cabinet was being formed of the Prime Minister and the premiers and chief ministers of the states and territories to coordinate the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia . On 29 May 2020, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that COAG would be replaced by a new structure based on the National Cabinet . Australia
63-668: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Government of the Northern Territory The Government of the Northern Territory of Australia , also referred to as the Northern Territory Government , the Government of the Northern Territory or simply the NT Government , is the executive branch of the Northern Territory . The Government of Northern Territory was formed in 1978 with
84-437: Is believed to be the first federation to have introduced a formal system of horizontal fiscal equalisation (HFE) which was introduced in 1933 to compensate States which have a lower capacity to raise revenue. Many federations use fiscal equalisation to reduce the inequalities in the fiscal capacities of sub-national governments arising from the differences in their geography, demography, natural endowments and economies. However
105-643: The Australian Local Government Association , it managed governmental relations within Australia's federal system within the scope of matters of national importance. On 29 May 2020, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that COAG would be replaced by a new structure based on the National Cabinet implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic . COAG grew out of the Premiers' Conferences, which had been held for many decades. These were limited to
126-745: The Federal Government , and leased (or subleased) them to FreightLink . In June 1999, it awarded the contract to build the Darwin to Alice Springs railway to the Asia Pacific Transport Consortium (APTC) as a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer operation. The lease runs until 2054. The Federal Government contributed $ 165 million from the Centenary of Federation Fund, the Northern Territory Government contributed $ 165 million and
147-785: The Legislative Assembly , which consists of the Administrator of the Northern Territory and the members of the Assembly. While the Assembly exercises roughly the same powers as the state governments of Australia, it does so by a delegation of powers from the Commonwealth, rather than by any constitutional right. This means that the Australian Parliament retains the right to legislate for the Territory, if it chooses to exercise it. Under
168-549: The Commission's calculations. At its meeting on 13 December 2013, COAG agreed to streamline the COAG council system and refocus on COAG's priorities over the next 12 to 18 months. The reforms led to a removal of the distinction between standing and select councils. At its dissolution, there were twelve COAG councils: The COAG Reform Council was established in 2010 as an independent body to advise on reforms of national significance. It
189-436: The Commonwealth are unencumbered and available for any purpose. Accordingly, HFE equalises fiscal capacity, not fiscal policies which remain for the states and territories to decide for themselves. It does not result in the same level of services or taxes in all states and territories, direct that the states and territories must achieve any specified level of service in any area, nor impose actual budget outcomes in accordance with
210-623: The South Australian Government contributed $ 150 million to the AARC for the construction of assets by APTC and FreightLink that were later leased for a peppercorn rental to FreightLink. In addition, the three governments contributed about $ 26 million each, a total of $ 79 million in further funding to support the APTC directly, by way of mezzanine debt financing ( subordinated debt ), equity and contingent equity . This Australian rail-related article
231-662: The Territory. The Northern Territory legislature does not have the legislative independence of the Australian states but has power in all matters not in conflict with the Constitution and applicable Commonwealth laws, but subject to a Commonwealth veto. Since 28 August 2024, the head of government is Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro of the Country Liberal Party , following the election defeat of Eva Lawler as chief minister on 24 August 2024. Legislative power rests with
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#1733084773415252-513: The federal and state or territorial governments and between the state and territorial governments themselves as well as issues affecting local government. COAG differed from the United States' National Governors Association or Canada's Council of the Federation , because these bodies only include state/provincial representatives, whereas COAG also included federal and local representatives. At
273-581: The granting of self-government to the Territory. The Northern Territory is a territory of the Commonwealth of Australia , and the Constitution of Australia and Commonwealth law regulates its relationship with the Commonwealth. Under the Australian Constitution, the Commonwealth has full legislative power, if it chooses to exercise it, over the Northern Territory, and has devolved self-government to
294-632: The law granting self-government to the Territory, the Federal Cabinet can advise the Governor-General of Australia to overturn any legislation passed by the Assembly. (See also Electoral systems of the Australian states and territories ). The government consists of a Ministry appointed by the Administrator, from the elected members of the Assembly. The Administrator normally appoints the leader of
315-490: The level of equalisation sought varies. In Australia, the objective is full equalisation. Full equalisation means that, after HFE, each of the six states, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory would have the capacity to provide services and the associated infrastructure at the same standard, if each state or territory made the same effort to raise revenue from its own sources and operated at
336-519: The majority party in the Assembly as the Chief Minister. The other members of the ministry are appointed by the Administrator on the advice of the Chief Minister. The Northern Territory Government is a member of the Council of Australian Governments . Source: For many years there has been agitation for statehood. A referendum was held on the issue in 1998, but the proposal was narrowly rejected. This
357-667: The premiers of the six states and the Prime Minister. A related organisation is the Loan Council , which coordinates borrowing by the federal and state and territorial governments of Australia. COAG was established in May 1992 after agreement by the then Prime Minister ( Paul Keating ), premiers and chief ministers, and it first met in December 1992. It was chaired by the Prime Minister. It met to debate and co-ordinate government activities between
378-677: The same level of efficiency. Currently the funds distributed to achieve HFE are the revenues raised from the Goods and Services Tax (GST), currently about AUD50bn a year. The distribution of GST required to achieve HFE is decided by the Federal Treasurer each year, on the basis of advice provided by the Commonwealth Grants Commission (CGC). Achieving HFE does not mean that the states and territories are directed how to raise revenue or how to spend their funds. GST revenue grants from
399-520: Was a shock to both the Northern Territory and Commonwealth governments, for opinion polls showed most Territorians supported statehood. However, under s. 121 of the Australian Constitution, the terms of admission of new states are decided by the Commonwealth Parliament. The terms offered included an increase to three seats in the Senate from two. The other states all have 12 senators. Alongside what
420-447: Was cited as an arrogant approach adopted by then Chief Minister Shane Stone , it is thought that many Territorians were reluctant to accept statehood on the offered terms. Council of Australian Governments The Council of Australian Governments ( COAG ) was the primary intergovernmental forum in Australia from 1992 to 2020. Comprising the federal government , the governments of the six states and two mainland territories and
441-544: Was disestablished in 2014. In 2012 a group of 20 environmental organisations released a joint communiqué denouncing the establishment of the COAG Business Advisory Forum and wanted wider representation on the Forum. The groups also opposed the weakening of environmental regulations. After the forum's abolition in early 2020, journalist Annabel Crabb wrote that, after initial utility in the 1990s, COAG had become
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