Northern Territory makes moves towards statehood
The Northern Territory Constitutional Convention Committee has announced arrangements to implement a implement recommendations from the former Statehood Steering Committee to support the next steps towards Statehood, following agreement from the Territory Government.
The Committee has announced the following:
- Territorians will go to the polls on Saturday 24 March 2012 in conjunction with Local Government elections to vote for Delegates to represent them at the State 7 Constitutional Convention
- The State 7 Constitutional Convention will take place at Parliament House and at the Darwin Convention Centre from 21 to 29 April 2012
- Nominations to stand as a Delegate will open during December this year
- There will be two Delegates plus one reserve (total three) elected from within each of the existing 25 electoral boundaries in the Northern Territory
- Expert and community Panelists will be appointed to assist the elected Delegates at the Convention but only elected Delegates will have voting rights to pass resolutions at the Convention
- Information Sessions for Territorians interested in nominating to be a Delegate will take place during October and November this year.
“This is a very exciting day for the Territory as we implement the recommendations of the Statehood Steering Committee and move towards becoming the seventh state,” Northern Territory Speaker Jane Aagaard said.