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When South Australia gave the Northern Territory to the Commonwealth in 1911, Territorians lost their democratic representation in Federal Parliament.
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The Territory was ruled directly by an Administrator appointed from Canberra.
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In 1918 the residents of Darwin marched in protest through the city to Government House demanding the removal of the Administrator and an investigation into his administration. Many were angry because they had no say in who ruled them; no taxation without representation was a common catchcry.
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The Northern Territory Representation Act 1922 first granted the Northern Territory one member in the House of Representatives. One of the key critics of taxation without representation, Harold Nelson, took up the first seat allocated to the Territory in the House of Representatives however, he had no right to vote in Parliament.
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In 1936 our Territory member in the House of Representatives obtained a limited right to vote on matters relevant to the Northern Territory only.
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In 1947 a Legislative Council was created in the Territory with six elected members and seven members appointed by the government in Canberra who could outvote the six Territorians at any time!
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From 1922 to 1968 the Territory member of the House of Representatives did not have the same rights as other members. Amendments in 1968 finally provided the full right to vote on all matters before the Federal Parliament.
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In 1974 the Northern Territory Legislative Council was replaced by the Northern Territory (Administration) Act giving the Territorya 19 member fully elected Legislative Assembly with limited powers.
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During 1975, Western Australia and New South Wales challenged a 1973 Commonwealth law allowing for the Northern Territory to have representation in the Senate. In 1977 Queensland also challenged our Senate representation.
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The Northern Territory had no direct say; it was a fight about our representation between those States and the Commonwealth decided in the High Court.
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The High Court decided the Territory is permitted Senate representation if provided for by the Parliament in Canberra.
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Territory residents had no vote in national constitutional referenda until 1977. Since then Territorians votes count only to the overall majority (See Fact Sheet 10)
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In 1978 the Territory was given limited self-government by the Commonwealth Parliament in Canberra with the Northern Territory Self Government Act.
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Until we are a State admitted with a right of Federal representation, we have no guarantee of ongoing Federal representation in either the Senate or the House of Representatives.
