The leader of the opposition is an official role usually occupied by the leader of the second largest party in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. In the event that party wins an election, the leader of the opposition will most likely become the chief minister.Schools Newsletter, Parliamentary Relations and Education Unit (Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory), June 2010.
While the Legislative Assembly was created in 1974, there was no parliamentary opposition for the first three-year term, as every seat was held by the government, with the exception of two that were won by independents.
Even though the leader of the government between 1974 and 1978 was known as majority leader, the position of leader of the opposition was always named as such for the leader of the opposing party and never as minority leader.
# Opposition LeaderOffice Holders 1st–11th Assemblies, Government of the Northern Territory, 9 February 2009.Party Dates in Opposition 1 Jon Isaacs 21 September 1977 – 1 November 1981 2 Bob Collins 2 November 1981 – 18 August 1986 3 Terry Smith 19 August 1986 – 1 November 1990 4 Brian Ede 2 November 1990 – 9 April 1996 5 Maggie Hickey 16 April 1996 – 2 February 1999 6 Clare Martin 3 February 1999 – 26 August 2001 7 Denis Burke 28 August 2001 – 14 November 2003 8 Terry Mills 15 November 2003 – 4 February 2005 (7) Denis Burke 7 February 2005 – 17 June 2005 9 Jodeen Carney 29 June 2005 – 28 January 2008 (8) Terry Mills 29 January 2008 – 29 August 2012 10 Delia Lawrie 29 August 2012 – 20 April 2015 11 Michael Gunner 20 April 2015 – 31 August 2016 12 Gary Higgins 2 September 2016 – 1 February 2020 13 Lia Finocchiaro 1 February 2020 – 18 March 2020Disputed18 March 2020 – 24 March 2020 (13) Lia Finocchiaro 24 March 2020 – 28 August 202414Selena Uibo 3 September 2024 – present
See also 2020 Northern Territory opposition leadership dispute
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