Join your council

Watch the video to learn about some of the roles you may be responsible for as a member of council.

Councils are responsible for providing different kinds of services, programs and infrastructure to communities.

The people who make decisions about these things are elected council members.

The Northern Territory is made up of 17 councils.

What you should know before you become a council member

Councils make collective decisions in the best interests of the community.

As a council member you have a responsibility to:

• comply with the Code of Conduct at all times
• manage the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and undertake regular performance reviews with support of other council members
• follow your legal duties and obligations under the Local Government Act 2019 and other legislation, such as the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Act 2017
• attend mandatory training about your responsibilities under the Local Government Act 2019 within 12 months of being elected
• disclose reportable donations and loans.

You will receive allowances to support your role as a representative, attendance at extra meetings and professional development opportunities.

How to become a council member

To become a council member you can nominate for an upcoming election, which is held every 4 years or when a by-election is called.

The Northern Territory Electoral Commission will officially invite nominations.

By becoming a council member you can:

• directly influence decisions that affect your community
• represent the interests of residents and ratepayers
• provide leadership and guidance
• attend council meetings
• help communicate between local people and the council
• ensure the council acts honestly, efficiently and appropriately.

For more information about how to nominate as a candidate, go to the Northern Territory Electoral Commission website.