Darwin Lord Mayor Peter Styles humiliated in council votes for top NT local government role

Darwin's council chamber has delivered a brutal verdict on Lord Mayor Peter Styles' leadership ambitions, with 12 of 13 elected members voting against him for the Territory’s top local government role. Read the details.

Peter Styles after he was declared the new Lord Mayor of Darwin at the Declaration of Results for the 2025 Local Government Elections on September 8, 2025. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Darwin Lord Mayor Peter Styles has been overwhelming rejected by his fellow councillors in his bid to join and lead the Territory’s Local Government Association, with long-time councillor Peter Pangquee endorsed as the council’s nominee for president.

At Tuesday’s council meeting, Mr Pangquee, who joined the council in 2017, received an overwhelming 12 votes in the anonymous ballot, while the Darwin Lord Mayor managed just a single vote.

In his two-minute speech, before voting began, Mr Styles reminded councillors of his experience as a police officer, a cabinet member, the deputy chief minister and “managing budgets between $2.5 and $3 billion”.

Then the floor was handed to Mr Pangquee, who spoke about his nearly seven year tenure in LGANT and his time serving on numerous boards, charities and advisory committees.

Peter Pangquee. Picture: Supplied

Shortly after the results were revealed, Mr Styles verbally congratulated Mr Pangquee.

But when it came to voting for a LGANT board director, Mr Styles was struck with another blow.

Sam Weston received five votes, Jimmy Bouhoris four, Edwin Joseph two and Mr Styles two.

If Mr Pangquee is elected as LGANT president at November’s Annual General Meeting, Mr Weston and Mr Bouhoris will both become LGANT board directors.

But if Mr Pangquee is not elected as LGANT president, Mr Weston and Mr Pangquee will become LGANT board directors – snubbing Mr Bouhoris.

Mr Pangquee’s nomination sets up a likely contest for the top job with long-serving Palmerston Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell.

Earlier this month, City of Palmerston rejoined LGANT, which represents all councils in the NT.

The City of Palmerston wasn’t a member under the previous board headed by former Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis, however Ms Pascoe-Bell said she was now ready to take over the role, if the chance arose.

Some critics have labelled Ms Pascoe-Bell’s decision to re-join LGANT as “self-serving”, while others have mounted praise on her for being an “experienced leader”.

Originally published as Darwin Lord Mayor Peter Styles humiliated in council votes for top NT local government role