Northern Territory Consolidated Acts Northern Territory Consolidated Acts44. Election or appointment of principal member
(1) The principal member of a council is:
(a) in the case of a municipal council - to be elected to the office; or
(b) in the case of a shire council - to be appointed or elected to the office.
(2) A shire council is taken to have chosen appointment as the basis of filling the office until the council changes the basis of filling the office under subsection (3).
(3) A shire council may, by special resolution, change the basis of filling the office.
(4) However, a change to the basis of filling the office:
(a) may only be made once during a council's term; and
(b) must be made at least 3 months, but not more than 9 months, before the end of that term.
(5) If a change is made to the basis of filling the office, the change does not take effect until the next general election (but it takes effect for the purposes of that election).