With Aboriginal people accounting for 60% of local government elected members across the Northern Territory – a figure that jumps to 89% in regional areas – the Local Government Association of the NT (LGANT) has highlighted Aboriginal leadership in local government during its NAIDOC Week celebrations.
LGANT President Kon Vatskalis said that the theme of 2025 NAIDOC Week, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy” was work being done on a daily basis by so many dedicated Aboriginal elected members, as well as council staff.
The Association also highlighted the contributions of the over 400 Aboriginal people on the 67 Local Authorities that work closely with regional councils to help deliver the best outcomes for their communities.
“NAIDOC Week is an important time to recognise the valuable work being done by so many Aboriginal elected members across the Territory and to celebrate the successes of the past and looking ahead to a bright future,” President Vatskalis said.
Roper Gulf Regional Council Deputy Mayor, Helen Lee (pictured) said that, as an Aboriginal woman, inspiring and empowering other women was one of the things she enjoyed most in her role.
“I also feel that as Indigenous councillors, we make a big and important difference in guiding council direction when it comes to decision making for our communities’ needs,” she said.
Roper Gulf Regional Council is one of four local government councils where all elected members are Aboriginal, while there are ten (out of 18 total) local councils that have a majority of Aboriginal elected members.
The local government sector in the NT is often the largest employer of Aboriginal people in remote and regional areas and the highest proportion nationally.
