Northern Territory Consolidated Acts Northern Territory Consolidated Acts12. Methods of disposal of Crown lands
(1) In this section Crown land does not include land held for an estate in fee simple that is registered under the Land Title Act in the name of the Territory.
(2) Subject to this Act, the Minister shall not grant an estate in fee simple in, or a lease of, Crown land unless the Minister has first:
(a) invited applications for that estate in, or lease of, the land; or
(b) offered the estate in, or lease of, the land for sale by auction, tender or ballot.
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (4), where the Minister, by instrument in writing, so determines, the Minister may grant an estate in fee simple in, or a lease of, Crown land without complying with subsection (2) in relation to the land.
(4) The Minister may grant an estate in fee simple in, or a lease of, land without complying with subsection (2) where the Minister does so:
(a) in pursuance of a provision of a lease to which the land is subject; or
(b) for the purpose only of exercising a power to add an area of adjoining or nearby land to an area of land that is the subject of an existing estate in fee simple or lease.
(5) Notwithstanding subsection (4), the Minister may grant a lease of land without complying with subsection (2) where the Minister does so for the purpose only of consolidating existing leases or of subdividing or renewing an existing lease.
(6) The Minister shall cause notice of each determination made for the purposes of subsection (3) to be published in the Gazette within 60 days after the date on which the determination was made.
(7) Without limiting the generality of subsection (2) or (3):
(a) a ballot conducted for the purposes of subsection (2) may be a ballot to determine eligibility:
(i) to bid at an auction; or
(ii) to tender; or
(b) a ballot may be conducted for the purposes of determining the right of a person to purchase land or an interest in land at a fixed price.