NT parliament updates: First session of the 15th assembly to kick off with swearing in of MLAs

The first session of the 15th Legislative Assembly is underway, with all 25 members to be sworn in and sweeteners in the form of assistant ministries to be doled out to CLP backbenchers. Law and order is expected to dominate.

The 15th assembly of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly commenced on Tuesday. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Welcome to our live coverage of the first session of the Northern Territory’s 15th Legislative Assembly, as Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro and her Country Liberal Party government seek to rebuild the battered NT.

The CLP, which boasts an impressive majority courtesy of holding 17 of 25 available seats, has promised the first sitting week will have a distinct law and order flavour.

Measures expected to be introduced in the coming fortnight include new penalties for public drinking, ram raiding and ‘posting and boasting’; lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10; and the suite of bail changes known as ‘Declan’s Law’.

Tuesday’s sitting will commence with a swearing in ceremony for all 25 MLAs, where CLP backbenchers who missed out on a ministry will each be given the consolation prize of an assistant ministry.

Originally published as NT parliament updates: First session of the 15th assembly to kick off with swearing in of MLAs