30-04-2025
NT Administrator appears to back Labor ahead of federal election despite 'non-partisan' role
The Northern Territory Administrator appears to have expressed support for the Australian Labor Party ahead of Saturday's federal election, despite holding a "non-partisan" and "publicly neutral" role as a Crown representative.
Professor Hugh Heggie PSM — the NT's equivalent to a state governor — appears to have submitted his political views to the ABC's Your Say election call-out.
The entry, with a listed personal email address confirmed to belong to Professor Heggie said:
"ALP [Australian Labor Party] has a strong and responsible approach to its social policies and activities as well as the environment, energy, remote First Nations peoples, employment, defence and its global responsibilities."
When contacted for comment, a spokesperson for Professor Heggie did not deny he had written the entry but said the Administrator "does not publicly express political preferences or engage in political activities".
"The Administrator is a non-partisan role and publicly neutral,"
they said.
"As a non-partisan role, it would not be appropriate for the Administrator to disclose a preference in the outcome of this weekend's federal election."
The NT's Government House website also states "His Honour performs a similar constitutional role to that of a state governor and does not participate in the political process".
Hugh Heggie has been the NT Administrator since February 2023.
(
Supplied: Pema Pakhrin/NT News
)
The spokesperson added that the Administrator was "subject to the same voter eligibility requirements as any other Australian".
Professor Heggie was appointed the NT's 23rd Administrator in February 2023 by the previous Territory Labor government.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro, who led the Country Liberal Party (CLP) to power at last year's NT election, was approached for comment.
A CLP spokesperson responded to say "this is a matter entirely for the Administrator to comment on".
Labor MP Luke Gosling, who's vying to retain the Top End seat of Solomon at Saturday's election, has also been contacted for comment.
The Administrator's spokesperson declined to make further comment.
