Our Scheme

The Community Government Scheme explains how the Council runs. This includes the area of governance, how elections are held and the role of elected members within the council and the functions and powers of the council.

The following is a link to the Northern Territory Legislation Database where the most up to date Tiwi Islands Community Government Scheme can be downloaded as a PDF of RTF document. Click here or read on for an overview of the Scheme.

The Tiwi Islands Community Government Scheme came into force on 12 July, 2001, naming the community government council as Tiwi Islands Local Government.

Membership

The Tiwi Islands Local Government has 17 members and has control over an area of 7 984 square kilometres. Members of the Local Government are selected as follows:

• 8 members are members of the Tiwi Aboriginal Land Trust

• 4 members selected by the Nguiu Community Management Board

• 2 members selected by the Milikapiti Community Management Board

• 2 members selected by the Pirlangimpi Community Management Board

• 1 member selected by the Wurankuwu Community Management Board

To view the current Members of the Tiwi Islands Local Government select the following link.

President and Vice-President

When the Tiwi Islands Local Government first meet after its election, or whenever necessary, members are selected to be President and Vice-President. The President's position is selected first.

The positions of President and Vice-President can not be filled by two members representing the same community management board area or two members of the Tiwi Aboriginal Land Trust.

The President and the Vice-President continue to hold their positions until:

• either he or she resigns, which they may do so at any time by giving written notice to the Chief Executive Officer;

• the Tiwi Islands Local Government terminates the selection; or

• he or she ceases to be a member of the Tiwi Islands Local Government.

Executive Committee

The Tiwi Islands Local Government may establish a management committee and appoint members, officers, employees and other persons for the purpose of exercising a power or performing a function of the government.

Powers of the Tiwi Islands Local Government

It is recognised that the Tiwi people have powers, functions and responsibilities under traditional laws and practices. The provisions of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 of the Commonwealth are in no way reduced by this Scheme.

The Tiwi Land Council has acknowledged the need to work co-operatively with the Tiwi Islands Local Government and the Northern Territory Government, in areas of land use and economic development. Final decisions relating to the use of land within the Tiwi Islands are made in accordance with the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 of the Commonwealth.

Under the Local Government Act, the Tiwi Islands Local Government has the power to do all things necessary or convenient and anything which is not otherwise unlawful, to perform its functions as listed below.

Functions of the Tiwi Islands Local Government

The Tiwi Islands Local Government may:

• establish, develop, operate and maintain communication, television and radio broadcasting facilities for the area;

• establish and maintain parks, gardens and recreational areas and carry out landscaping and other associated works;

• establish and maintain sports facilities, libraries, cinemas, community halls, public toilets, ablution blocks, laundry facilities, swimming pools and museums;

• provide services for the collection and disposal of garbage, provide and maintain particular places where garbage may be dumped and provide for the control of litter generally;

• provide and maintain sanitation, sewerage, drainage and water supply facilities and remove health hazards;

• provide and maintain electricity facilities;

• provide educational, vocational and other training;

• provide and maintain housing for residents and their families on the terms and conditions that the Tiwi Islands Local Government thinks fit;

• manage community employment programs and carry out as agent (whether or not for reward) activities relating to the providing of social security services or benefits;

• promote and provide community welfare, health and care facilities for people of all ages;

• prevent and control substance abuse;

• provide and maintain cemeteries;

• control or prohibit animals, including the entry or exit of animals into the area and for that purpose seize animals and place them in a fenced or enclosed area;

• develop and maintain roads within the area, including by providing street lighting and traffic control devices;

• develop and maintain, for reward, roads outside the area;

• provide and maintain airstrips and related facilities;

• hire out, for reward, a vehicle, plant, appliance or equipment belonging to the Tiwi Islands Local Government;

• repair and maintain, for reward, a vehicle, plant, appliance or equipment not owned by the Tiwi Islands Local Government;

• sell goods or equipment purchased by the Tiwi Islands Local Government for, or in connection with, an enterprise and then found not to be needed by the Government;

• contract to provide works projects (including by providing services and maintaining capital works and undertakings) within or outside the area;

• establish and operate pastoral and commercial enterprises;

• establish and maintain a firefighting service, including by acquiring property and equipment and by training personnel for the service, and protect the area from fire;

• promote and develop tourist attractions and facilities within the area and produce and sell artefacts and souvenirs;

• manage and control sites of historic interest;

• support and encourage artistic, cultural and sporting activities; and
  control public places.
  

By-laws

Under the Local Government Act, the Tiwi Islands Local Government are permitted to make by-laws which regulate and control certain activities and functions within the community government area.

Attending Meetings

The Tiwi Islands Local Government meet at least once every 2 months. Special meetings may be called if at least 2 days notice is given to the members.
A member can be dismissed from the Tiwi Islands Local Government, if he/she is absent from 3 consecutive meetings and the Government did not, before each meeting took place, agree to the member being absent.

Meetings of the Tiwi Islands Local Government are open to all people, unless the Government determines that a meeting, or part of a meeting, is to be closed.

Chairperson

The Tiwi Islands Local Government selects a person to be the Chairperson at meetings. This person has to be eligible to vote at an election for members of a community management board and must not be a member of the Tiwi Islands Local Government. The Chairperson remains in this position until another is selected by the Local Government or the person resigns as Chairperson.

Procedure at Meetings

The Chairperson resides over meetings of the Tiwi Islands Local Government. The Local Government makes decisions (called "standing orders") about the procedures that usually apply at meetings. Minutes of Local Government meetings are kept as a record of its proceedings and its decisions.

Quorum

The quorum for a Local Government meeting is 10 members, meaning this number of members are required to be present at meetings before it can commence.

Voting at Meetings

The Tiwi Islands Local Government may ask members at a meeting to vote on a proposal. If the majority of members then in office (not just half the members at the meeting) vote for the proposal, then the proposal is agreed to by the Tiwi Islands Local Government. Similarly, if the majority of members then in office, vote against the proposal, then it is not agreed to.

If half the members then in office (not just half the number of members at the meeting) vote for a proposal and half vote against the proposal, the proposal is not agreed to by the Tiwi Islands Local Government.

Community Management Boards

The following are the Community Management Boards established for the 4 community areas:

• the Milikapiti Community Management Board is established for the Milikapiti community management board area;

• the Nguiu Community Management Board is established for the Nguiu community management board area;

• the Pirlangimpi Community Management Board is established for the Pirlangimpi community management board area; and

• the Wurankuwu Community Management Board is established for the Wurankuwu community management board area.

Functions and Procedures of Community Management Boards

The community management boards select members of the Tiwi Islands Local Government to represent the area and carry out functions delegated by the Local Government to the members of the Board.

The Tiwi Islands Local Government determine procedures to be followed by the community management boards. Each board may also determine their own procedures, as long as they are not inconsistent with any determined by the Tiwi Islands Local Government.

The Community Management Boards meet at least once every 2 months.

The boundaries of each of the Community Management Board areas are clearly set out on Compiled Plan 4932 held in the office of the Surveyor General, Darwin. Click here for contact details.

About the Milikapiti Community Management Board

The Milikapiti Community Management Board area covers approximately 4368 square kilometres at Melville Island in the Northern Territory of Australia.

The Milikapiti Board consists of a President, a Vice-President; and 9 other members. The Quorum for the Milikapiti Community Management Board is the majority of members then in Office.

People are eligible to vote at a Milikapiti community management board election if they are eligible as an elector within the meaning of the Electoral Act and have resided in the community area for not less than 6 months immediately before the closure of the roll (21 days before Election Day).

Notice of Elections being held are given by the chief executive officer not less than 4 weeks before election day.

People are eligible for nomination as President, Vice-President or an ordinary member of the community management board if they are enrolled under the Electoral Act and have resided in the community area for a period or periods totalling at least 5 years before nomination.

People who are enrolled under the Electoral Act are able to nominate another enrolled person for President, Vice-President or ordinary member, if that person is eligible for nomination. Candidates may withdraw consent to his or her nomination at any time before the close of nominations.

Nominations of candidates for election close at 12 noon on the day 14 days before Election Day.

A person who is enrolled under the Electoral Act may apply to the Chief Executive Officer for a postal ballot paper if:

• they are ill, infirm or for religious reasons unable to attend a polling place;

• they will be absent from the community government area during the hours when the polling place will be open; or

• they will be unable to attend a polling place in person on election day.

About the Nguiu Community Management Board

The Nguiu Community Management Board area covers approximately 787 square kilometres near Bathurst Island in the Northern Territory of Australia.

The Nguiu board consists of 16 members, comprising 4 members from each of the Lorrula (Stone), Miyartuwi (Pandanus), Takaringuwi (Mullet) and Wantarringuwi (Sun or Fire) skin groups. The quorum for the Nguiu Community Management Board is 7 members.

A person is eligible for election as a member of the Nguiu Community Management Board if they are enrolled as a voter under the Electoral Act, and either have resided in the community area for a period of not less than 5 years or they are a non-resident traditional owner of the community management board area.

People are eligible to vote at a Nguiu Community Management Board election if they are enrolled as an elector within the meaning of the Electoral Act, and have resided in the community area for not less than 12 months immediately before the closure of the roll (21 days before Election Day) or they are a non-resident traditional owner of the area.

About the Pirlangimpi Community Management Board

The Pirlangimpi Community Management Board area covers approximately 1762 square kilometres on Melville Island in the Northern Territory of Australia.

The Pirlangimpi Board consists of 13 members (including a President and Vice-President) comprising 3 persons representing each of the Lorrula (Stone), Miyartuwi (Pandanus), Takaringuwi (Mullet), Wantarringuwi (Sun or Fire) skin groups and 1 person representing voters who are not members of any of those 4 skin groups ("the non-skin group").

The Quorum for the Pirlangimpi Community Management Board is the majority of members then in Office.

A person is eligible for election as a member of the Pirlangimpi Community Management Board if they are enrolled as a voter under the Electoral Act, and have resided in the community area for a period of not less than 5 years.

People are eligible to vote at a Pirlangimpi Community Management Board election if they are enrolled as an elector within the meaning of the Electoral Act, and have resided in the community area for not less than 6 months.

About the Wurankuwu Community Management Board

The Wurankuwu Community Management Board area covers approximately 1067 square kilometres at Bathurst Island in the Northern Territory of Australia.

The Wurankuwu Community Management Board consists of 9 members, comprising a President, a Vice-President, a Treasurer and a Secretary. The Quorum for the Wurankuwu Community Management Board is the majority of members then in Office.

A person is eligible for election as a member of the Wurankuwu Community Management Board if they are enrolled as a voter under the Electoral Act, and have resided in the community area for a period of not less than 5 years.

People are eligible to vote at a Wurankuwu Community Management Board election if they are enrolled as an elector within the meaning of the Electoral Act, and have resided in the community area for not less than 6 months.

Further Information on Community Management Boards

Detailed information on the functions, membership and election procedures for each of the Community Management Boards can be found under 'Schedule 4' of the original document 'Tiwi Islands Local Government Scheme' which can be downloaded by selecting the link at the top of this page.

 
Printable Version