Northern Territory Consolidated Acts Northern Territory Consolidated Acts45. Appointment or election of principal member (and deputy)
(1) If appointment is the basis of filling the office of the principal member of a council, the council must, at the first meeting of a council to be held after a general election, appoint one of its members to be the principal member, and another to be deputy principal member, of the council.
(2) If election is the basis of filling the office of the principal member:
(a) the office is to be filled at each general election; and
(b) the council must, at the first meeting of the council to be held after each general election, appoint one of its members to be deputy principal member.