The Role of a State Premier or Chief Minister

Ok we have looked at our Prime Minister, our Deputy PM and our Governor General, so let’s move onto our state Premiers.

We have 6 states, and each state has their own premier. We also have two main territories the Northern Territory and Australia Capital Territory. The territories do not have Premiers but instead have Chief Ministers.

The Premier is the senior representative and spokesperson for the Government, is usually its predominant Parliamentary performer, and tends to set the overall tone and direction of the Government.

The chief minister of the Northern Territory is the head of government of the Northern Territory. The office is the equivalent of a state premier. When the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly was created in 1974, the head of government was officially known as majority leader.

In a 1998 referendum, the voters of the Northern Territory rejected a statehood proposal that would have given the territory three senators, rather than the twelve held by the other states, although the name “Northern Territory” would have been retained.

Our Premiers and Chief Ministers responsibilities include schools, hospitals, conservation and environment, roads, railways and public transport, public works, agriculture and fishing, industrial relations, community services, sport and recreation, consumer affairs, police, prisons, and emergency services.