By-election looms after long-time Darwin councillor Justine Glover resigns in shock decision

A by-election will be called after long-time Darwin city councillor Justine Glover’s shock announcement that she was resigning.

LONG-TIME Darwin city councillor Justine Glover has announced she is stepping down less than a year after being re-elected.

Cr Glover said the decision to resign from council was “tough” but she wanted “balance” returned to her life.

Cr Justine Glover said the decision to resign from council was ‘tough’

“Sometimes you have to make the tough decisions and this was a tough one as I have loved representing my community,” she said.

“I have been truly honoured to hold this position but it was time to get some balance back in my life.”

Speaking to Katie Woolf on Mix 104.9 on Monday, Cr Glover apologised to residents of her Waters Ward, who will face a by-election to vote for her replacement.

She said she had previously been advised a by-election wasn’t necessary if she resigned but that had not turned out to be the case.

Cr Glover said she was stepping down because she could not give her position on council “justice”.

“It breaks my heart to actually admit, with how the world has changed since August in my work, I just couldn’t do it anymore,” she said.

“I apologise to everyone out there that I’m putting you through another by-election. But it’s a decision that I had to make.

“You’ve got to have the time and commitment and capacity to do justice to the community and I thought going early now was the best thing to do.”

Darwin Mayor Kon Vatskalis congratulated Cr Glover on her contribution to the community.

“Justine was always a passionate advocate for her constituents,” he said.

“I fully understand that sometimes work, family and the responsibility as local representative becomes difficult to balance. I thank Justine for all of her hard work, and I wish her all the best in the future.

The NT Local Government Act requires a by-election for the vacant councillor role within four months.