{"id":"place-names-act-1967","name":"Place Names Act 1967","slug":"place-names-act-1967","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":30483,"registerId":"nt-place-names-act-1967-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Place Names Act 1967","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nPLACE NAMES ACT 1967\nAs in force at 13 September 2025\nTable of provisions\n1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1\n2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1\n3 Repeal and saving ........................................................................... 1\n4 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1\n4A Meaning of place ............................................................................. 2\n5 Place Names Committee ................................................................. 2\n6 Acting Chairperson .......................................................................... 3\n7 Term of appointment ....................................................................... 3\n7A Deputies of members ...................................................................... 3\n9 Committee's reports and recommendations .................................... 3\n10 Meetings of Committee .................................................................... 5\n11 Powers of Minister ........................................................................... 5\n11A Delegation ....................................................................................... 6\n11B Register ........................................................................................... 6\n11C Naming of place............................................................................... 7\n11D Notification of naming of place......................................................... 7\n12 Regulations...................................................................................... 7\n13 Transitional matters for Place Names Amendment Act 2004 .......... 7\nENDNOTES\n\n\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 13 September 2025\n____________________\nPLACE NAMES ACT 1967\nAn Act relating to the naming of places\n1 Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Place Names Act 1967.\n2 Commencement\nThis Act shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by the\nAdministrator by notice in the Gazette.\n3 Repeal and saving\n(1) The Nomenclature (Public Places) Ordinance 1945 and the\nNomenclature (Public Places) Ordinance 1966 are repealed.\n(2) Notwithstanding the repeal effected by subsection (1), where, by\nvirtue of section 5 of the Nomenclature (Public Places)\nOrdinance 1945, a public place was, immediately prior to the\ncommencement of this Act, known by a particular name, that public\nplace shall continue to be known by that name unless and until the\nname of that public place is altered as provided by this Act.\n4 Definitions\nIn this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:\nmember means a member of the Committee.\nplace has the meaning in section 4A.\nSurveyor-General means the Surveyor-General for the Northern\nTerritory appointed under the Licensed Surveyors Act 1983.\nthe Committee means the Place Names Committee for the\nNorthern Territory established under this Act.\n\nPlace Names Act 1967 2\n4A Meaning of place\n(1) A place includes:\n(a) a geographic or topographic feature (whether or not covered\nby water); and\n(b) a county, hundred, town, community, suburb or locality within\na town or a site for a town; and\n(c) a highway, road, street, lane, trail or thoroughfare that is open\nto or used by the public; and\n(d) a park, garden, reserve, recreation or sporting ground that is\nopen to or used by the public; and\n(e) a public cemetery as defined in the Burial and Cremation\nAct 2022; and\n(f) public infrastructure associated with transport facilities,\neducational institutions, medical institutions or nursing homes;\nand\n(g) a place, structure or building that is or may be of public or\nhistoric interest.\n(2) A place does not include:\n(a) a division within the meaning of the Electoral Act 2004; or\n(b) a local government area or a ward; or\n(c) a place that is given or that may be given a name under\nanother law in force in the Territory.\n5 Place Names Committee\n(1) For the purposes of this Act, there is to be a Place Names\nCommittee for the Northern Territory.\n(2) The Committee is to consist of at least 4 and no more than\n6 members.\n(3) The Minister, in writing, may appoint:\n(a) at least 2 persons to be members, and may appoint one of\nthose persons to be the Chairperson of the Committee; and\n(b) one person to be a member from among 3 persons nominated\nby the Local Government Association of the Northern\nTerritory.\n\nPlace Names Act 1967 3\n(4) The Surveyor-General is to be a member of the Committee.\n6 Acting Chairperson\nWhen the office of Chairperson is vacant or in the event of the\nabsence, illness or other incapacity of the Chairperson, the\nSurveyor-General shall have the powers, exercise the functions and\nperform the duties of the Chairperson.\n7 Term of appointment\n(1) Subject to subsection (2), a member (other than the Surveyor-\nGeneral) holds office for the period, not exceeding 4 years,\nspecified in the instrument of appointment and is eligible for\nreappointment.\n(2) The appointment of a member (other than the Surveyor-General)\nmay be terminated at any time by the Minister by written notice\ngiven to the member.\n(3) A member (other than the Surveyor-General) may resign from office\nby written notice given to the Minister.\n7A Deputies of members\n(1) A member (other than the Chairperson or the Surveyor-General)\nmay by writing under his or her hand appoint a person to be his or\nher deputy for the purpose of attending a specified meeting of the\nCommittee.\n(2) A person appointed under subsection (1) has, at the meeting in\nrespect of which he or she is appointed, but not otherwise, all the\npowers and functions of the member of whom he or she is the\ndeputy but shall not preside at the meeting.\n(3) An appointment under subsection (1) is revocable by writing served\non the deputy before the time fixed for the meeting in respect of\nwhich the deputy is appointed but if not so revoked prevents the\nmember making the appointment from exercising his powers and\nperforming his functions in person at the meeting.\n9 Committee's reports and recommendations\n(1) Subject to this section, the Committee may, from time to time as\noccasion requires, make reports to the Minister containing\nrecommendations in relation to the naming of or the altering of the\nname of a place.\n\nPlace Names Act 1967 4\n(1A) Before making a report under subsection (1), the Committee must\nrequest the following persons seek the views of interested persons\nand provide a report to the Committee of those views:\n(a) if a person requested the naming or altering of the name of a\nplace – the person;\n(b) any other person the Committee considers appropriate.\n(1AB) However, the Committee may on its own initiative, seek the views\nof interested persons.\n(1B) The Committee must not make a recommendation under\nsubsection (1) in relation to naming or altering the name of:\n(a) a road, street, lane, trail or thoroughfare that is not vested in\nthe Territory or a local government council – unless the owner\nof the road, street, lane, trail or thoroughfare agrees to the\nrecommendation being made; or\n(b) a building – unless the owner of the building agrees to the\nrecommendation being made.\n(2) The Committee shall forward to the Minister with each report under\nsubsection (1) any communications and particulars of any\nrepresentations received by it in relation to the naming of or the\naltering of the name of a place to which the report relates.\n(3) A reference in this section to the altering of the name of a place\nshall be read as including a reference to the substitution of another\nname for the name of the place.\n(4) In this section:\ninterested persons include the following:\n(a) if the report relates to a place within a local government area –\nthe local government council established for the area;\n(b) if the report relates to a place outside a local government\narea – the Land Council, within the meaning of the Aboriginal\nLand Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth), established in\nrespect of the area where the place is located;\n(c) if the report relates to a place within an area covered by an\nagreement with the Territory that includes provisions relating\nto the naming of places – the organisation required under the\nagreement to be consulted with in respect of the naming of the\nplace;\n\nPlace Names Act 1967 5\n(d) if the report relates to the naming of land – the owner or\ndeveloper of the land;\n(e) the family or descendants of a person proposed to be\ncommemorated through the naming of a place.\n10 Meetings of Committee\n(1) The Chairperson of the Committee:\n(a) may convene a meeting of the Committee at any time on the\nChairperson's own initiative; and\n(b) must convene a meeting of the Committee when requested to\ndo so by the Minister.\n(1A) Subject to this Act, the Committee is to determine the procedures to\nbe followed at or in connection with its meetings.\n(2) At a meeting of the Committee:\n(a) the Chairperson must preside; and\n(b) 2 members form a quorum; and\n(c) all questions must be decided by a majority of votes of the\nmembers present and voting; and\n(d) the Chairperson has a deliberative vote and, in the event of an\nequality of votes, also has a casting vote.\n11 Powers of Minister\n(1A) The Minister may, in relation to the naming of or the alteration of the\nname of a place, direct the Committee to consider certain names or\nrecommend specific names, and the Committee shall make\nrecommendations thereon in accordance with section 9.\n(1) Upon receiving a report under section 9, the Minister may:\n(a) approve, either without alteration or subject to such alteration\nas he or she thinks fit, any recommendation contained in the\nreport;\n(b) reject any recommendation contained in the report; or\n(c) return the report to the Committee for further consideration\nand the submission of another report under that section.\n(2) The Minister must notify the Committee of a recommendation\napproved under subsection (1).\n\nPlace Names Act 1967 6\n11A Delegation\n(1) The Minister may, in writing, delegate to the Chairperson of the\nCommittee or the Surveyor-General the Minister's powers under\nsections 11(1)(a) and (2) and 11D(1).\n(2) A person who is delegated the Minister's power under\nsection 11(1)(a) may only exercise the power where a report of the\nCommittee under section 9 recommends:\n(a) changes to the boundaries or geographical description of a\nplace that has been named under this Act; or\n(b) the naming of an extension to a highway, road, street, lane,\ntrail or thoroughfare that has been named under this Act; or\n(c) the naming or altering of the name of an Aboriginal community\nwhen the request has been made by an organisation\nrepresenting the community; or\n(d) the naming or altering of the name of a place appearing on\nmap sheets and charts of the Territory the name for which has\nbeen in general use in the community for at least 10 years; or\n(e) the naming or altering of the name of a geographic or\ntopographic feature the name for which has been commonly\nused by the community or landowner in the area of the feature\nfor at least 10 years; or\n(f) the altering of the road type part of the name of a highway,\nroad, street, lane, trail or thoroughfare that has been named\nunder this Act.\nExample for subsection (2)(a)\nAltering the location of a road named under this Act if the boundaries of the road\nchange after it is named.\nExample for subsection (2)(f)\nAltering Godfrey Court to Godfrey Circuit.\n11B Register\n(1) The Committee must establish a register.\n(2) The register may be kept in any form the Committee determines.\n(3) The Committee must record in the register a name approved under\nsection 11 as soon as practicable after being notified under\nsection 11(2).\n\nPlace Names Act 1967 7\n(4) The Committee must ensure that the register is able to be\ninspected by the public.\n11C Naming of place\nThe name approved for a place under section 11 is the name of the\nplace from the date the name is recorded in the register kept under\nsection 11B.\n11D Notification of naming of place\n(1) The Minister may publish in the Gazette a notice of the naming of a\nplace.\n(2) The Committee may develop guidelines as to which categories of\nplaces should be notified under subsection (1).\n12 Regulations\nThe Administrator may make regulations, not inconsistent with this\nAct, prescribing all matters which by this Act are required or\npermitted to be prescribed, or which are necessary or convenient to\nbe prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.\n13 Transitional matters for Place Names Amendment Act 2004\nOn the commencement of the Place Names Amendment Act 2004,\nthe name given a place under this Act is taken to have been\nrecorded in the register kept under section 11B.\n\nENDNOTES\nPlace Names Act 1967 8\nENDNOTES\n1 KEY Key to abbreviations\namd = amended od = order\napp = appendix om = omitted\nbl = by-law pt = Part\nch = Chapter r = regulation/rule\ncl = clause rem = remainder\ndiv = Division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired rep = repealed\nf = forms s = section\nGaz = Gazette sch = Schedule\nhdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision\nins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation\nlt = long title sub = substituted\nnc = not commenced\n2 LIST OF LEGISLATION\nPlace Names Ordinance 1967 (Act No. 38, 1967)\nAssent date 8 September 1967\nCommenced 22 November 1967 (Gaz No. 56, 22 November 1967)\nPlace Names Ordinance 1973 (Act No. 6, 1973)\nAssent date 13 March 1973\nCommenced 11 October 1973 (Gaz No. 40, 4 October 1973)\nOrdinances Revision Ordinance 1973 (Act No. 87, 1973)\nAssent date 11 December 1973\nCommenced 11 December 1973 (s 12(2))\nAmending Legislation\nOrdinances Revision Ordinance 1974 (Act No. 34, 1974)\nAssent date 26 August 1974\nCommenced 11 December 1973 (s 3(2))\nOrdinances Revision Ordinance (No. 2) 1974 (Act No. 69, 1974)\nAssent date 24 October 1974\nCommenced 11 December 1973 (s 3)\nOrdinances Revision Ordinance 1976 (Act No. 27, 1976)\nAssent date 28 June 1976\nCommenced ss 1, 2 and 6: 28 June 1976 (s 6(2));\nss 3 and 4: 11 December 1973; s 5: 24 October 1974\nTransfer of Powers (Further Provisions) Ordinance 1977 (Act No. 51, 1977)\nAssent date 9 December 1977\nCommenced 1 January 1978 (s 2)\n\nENDNOTES\nPlace Names Act 1967 9\nTransfer of Powers (Self-Government) Ordinance 1978 (Act No. 54, 1978)\nAssent date 1 July 1978\nCommenced 1 July 1978 (s 2)\nStatute Law Revision Act 1978 (Act No. 95, 1978)\nAssent date 5 September 1978\nCommenced 5 September 1978\nRemuneration (Statutory Bodies) Act 1979 (Act No. 9, 1980)\nAssent date 14 January 1980\nCommenced 8 February 1980 (Gaz G6, 8 February 1980, p 6)\nStatute Law Revision Act (No. 4) 1981 (Act No. 4, 1982)\nAssent date 12 February 1982\nCommenced 12 February 1982\nPlace Names Amendment Act 1983 (Act No. 55, 1983)\nAssent date 8 November 1983\nCommenced 8 November 1983\nLocal Government (Consequential Amendments) Act 1993 (Act No. 84, 1993)\nAssent date 31 December 1993\nCommenced 1 June 1994 (s 2, s 2 Local Government Act 1993 (Act\nNo. 83, 1993) and Gaz S35, 20 May 1994)\nPlace Names Amendment Act 2004 (Act No. 70, 2004)\nAssent date 21 December 2004\nCommenced 7 September 2005 (Gaz G36, 7 September 2005, p 3)\nLocal Government (Consequential Amendments) Act 2008 (Act No. 28, 2008)\nAssent date 14 November 2008\nCommenced 1 July 2008 (s 2)\nLocal Government Amendment Act 2014 (Act No. 19, 2014)\nAssent date 2 June 2014\nCommenced s 16: 1 July 2014; s 18: 1 December 2014; rem: 2 June 2014\n(s 2)\nStatute Law Amendment (Territory Economic Reconstruction) Act 2021 (Act No. 19,\n2021)\nAssent date 31 August 2021\nCommenced pt 6: 2 October 2021; rem: 29 September 2021 (Gaz G39,\n29 September 2021, p 1)\nStatute Law Amendment (Territory Economic Reconstruction) Act 2022 (Act No. 5,\n2022)\nAssent date 14 April 2022\nCommenced pt 7: nc; rem: 25 May 2022 (Gaz G21, 25 May 2022, p 1)\nBurial and Cremation Act 2022 (Act No. 16, 2022)\nAssent date 9 August 2022\nCommenced 28 November 2022 (Gaz , 2022, p 1)\nStatute Law Revision Act 2023 (Act No. 4, 2023)\nAssent date 2 March 2023\nCommenced 3 March 2023 (s 2)\n\nENDNOTES\nPlace Names Act 1967 10\nLocal Government and Place Names Amendment Act 2024 (Act No. 2, 2024)\nAssent date 1 March 2024\nCommenced 2 March 2024 (s 2)\nLands, Planning and Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (Act No. 25, 2025)\nAssent date 12 September 2025\nCommenced pt 6: nc; rem: 13 September 2025 (s 2(1))\n3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS\nGeneral amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table\nof amendments to this reprint) are made by the Ordinances Revision\nOrdinance 1973 (Act No. 87, 1973) (as amended) to: ss 3, 4, 5, 7, 10 and 11.\n4 GENERAL AMENDMENTS\nGeneral amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table\nof amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation\nAmendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: ss 1, 3, 4 and 4A.\n5 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\nlt amd No. 4, 1982, s 3; No. 70, 2004, s 10\nss 1 – 3 amd No. 4, 1982, s 3\ns 4 amd No. 6, 1973, s 4; No. 4, 1982, s 3; No. 55, 1983, s 3; No. 84, 1993, s 6;\nNo. 70, 2004, s 4; No. 28, 2008, s 3; No. 19, 2014, s 26\ns 4A ins No. 70, 2004, s 5\namd No. 28, 2008, s 3; No. 19, 2014, s 26; No. 16, 2022, s 222\ns 5 amd No. 51, 1977, s 3; No. 54, 1978, s 3; No. 4, 1982, s 3\nsub No. 55, 1983, s 4\namd No. 70, 2004, s 10; No. 25, 2025, s 26\ns 7 amd No. 51, 1977, s 3; No. 54, 1978, s 4; No. 4, 1982, s 3\nsub No. 55, 1983, s 5\namd No. 70, 2004, s 10; No. 2, 2024, s 6\ns 7A ins No. 55, 1983, s 5\namd No. 70, 2004, s 10\ns 8 rep No. 9, 1980, s 6\ns 9 amd No. 6, 1973, s 5; No. 51, 1977, s 3; No. 54, 1978, s 3; No. 55, 1983, s 6;\nNo. 84, 1993, s 6; No. 70, 2004, ss 6 and 10; No. 19, 2014, s 26; No. 5, 2022,\ns 110\ns 10 amd No. 51, 1977, s 3; No. 54, 1978, s 3; No. 4, 1982, s 3; No. 55, 1983, s 7;\nNo. 70, 2004, s 10; No. 19, 2021, s 86; No. 2, 2024, s 7\ns 11 amd No. 51, 1977, s 3; No. 54, 1978, s 3; No. 4, 1982, s 3; No. 55, 1983, s 8;\nNo. 70, 2004, ss 7 and 10\ns 11A ins No. 70, 2004, s 8\namd No. 19, 2021, s 87; No. 4, 2023, s 23\nss 11B – 11D ins No. 70, 2004, s 8\ns 12 amd No. 95, 1978, s 4; No. 4, 1982, s 3\ns 13 ins No. 70, 2004, s 9","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act has broadened materially from a narrow 1967 naming regime. Key scope changes introduced by later amendments include: an expanded statutory definition of “place” that now expressly includes a wider range of public infrastructure, cemeteries (cross‑linked to the Burial and Cremation Act 2022), and buildings of public or historic interest (s 4A); a formal public register of approved names and a rule that names take legal effect on entry (ss 11B–11C); a clearer mandatory consultation process identifying specific ‘interested persons’ (s 9(1A),(4)); explicit owner‑consent limits on renaming roads and buildings (s 9(1B)); and clarified delegation rules allowing limited administrative approvals in routine or long‑established cases (s 11A(1)–(2)). Those additions expand the Act from a basic naming mechanism to a more prescriptive administrative framework governing who is consulted, how names are recorded and when delegations may be used."},"complexity_factors":["Single substantive Part with relatively few sections (ss 1–13).","One principal defined term expanded by s 4A with multiple positive inclusions (7 categories) and 3 explicit exclusions (s 4A(1)–(2)).","Committee composition and membership rules with a mix of appointed, ex‑officio and nominated members (s 5(2)–(4)).","Consultation regime with staged requirements and a defined list of ‘interested persons’ (s 9(1A), (1AB), (2), (4)).","Owner‑consent condition for specific categories (roads and buildings) creating categorical exceptions (s 9(1B)).","Delegation provisions with multiple conditional subclauses limiting when delegation can be used (s 11A(2)(a)–(f)).","Cross‑references to external statutes (Burial and Cremation Act 2022; Electoral Act 2004; Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth)) which require reading alongside other laws (s 4A(1)(e), 4A(2)(a), s 9(4)(b)).","Public register obligation coupled with flexible record‑keeping form (s 11B(1)–(3)).","Ministerial discretion to direct and finalise names (s 11(1), (1A)) increases interpretive space and administrative discretion."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does (mechanically)**\n\n- Establishes a Place Names Committee for the Northern Territory and sets out how that Committee is constituted and operates (see s 5, ss 6–7A). The Committee must have between 4 and 6 members and must include the Surveyor‑General (s 5(2), (4)).\n\n- Defines what counts as a “place” for naming purposes (s 4A). The definition is broad and expressly includes natural features, towns, streets, parks, public cemeteries, public infrastructure linked to transport/education/health, and buildings of public or historic interest (s 4A(1)). It also lists a few exclusions (s 4A(2)).\n\n- Sets out the process the Committee follows when recommending names or name changes: the Committee may report to the Minister and, before doing so, must ask specified persons to seek views of interested people and provide those views to the Committee (s 9(1), (1A), (1AB), (2), (4)). The Committee must include communications and representations it has received when it forwards recommendations (s 9(2)).\n\n- Imposes practical limits on recommendations: the Committee must not recommend renaming a road or public thoroughfare unless the owner agrees, nor rename a building unless the owner agrees (s 9(1B)).\n\n- Gives the Minister the power to approve, reject, or return Committee recommendations (s 11(1)). The Minister can also direct the Committee to consider particular names (s 11(1A)).\n\n- Allows the Minister to delegate some approval powers to the Chairperson or the Surveyor‑General, but only in a set of specified, limited cases (for example, naming extensions, long‑established local names, or altering a road‑type word) (s 11A(1)–(2)).\n\n- Requires the Committee to keep a publicly inspectable register of approved names and to record approved names as soon as practicable (ss 11B(1)–(4), 11C). Naming takes legal effect from the date the name is entered in the register (s 11C).\n\n- Allows publication of naming notices in the Government Gazette and leaves guideline development on which categories should be gazetted to the Committee (s 11D).\n\n- Gives the Administrator power to make regulations to support the Act (s 12).\n\n**Who this affects**\n\n- Public authorities and the Minister (who decide and approve names) (ss 9, 11). The Minister can also direct the Committee or delegate certain approval powers (ss 11(1A), 11A).\n\n- The Place Names Committee and its members, including the Surveyor‑General as an ex‑officio member (s 5(4)).\n\n- Owners and managers of land, roads, buildings and public infrastructure — their consent is required in particular cases (s 9(1B)).\n\n- Local government councils, Land Councils (under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth)), organisations named in territorial agreements, and developers or owners of land — they are listed as “interested persons” to be consulted (s 9(4)).\n\n- Individuals or organisations proposing a name — they are required to seek views and provide reports when asked (s 9(1A)).\n\n- The public — the register must be publicly inspectable and naming takes legal effect when recorded (ss 11B(4), 11C).\n\n**Why it matters (practical consequences and mechanics)**\n\n- Official names become the legal name of a place when entered in the register; that affects addresses, mapping, signage, property descriptions, and legal instruments that rely on an official place name (s 11C, s 11B(3)).\n\n- The Act sets a formal consultation burden: proposals normally trigger requests for interested parties to be consulted and for those views to be reported to the Committee (s 9(1A), (1AB), (2), (4)). That creates time and administrative costs for proposers, councils and representative bodies.\n\n- Certain approvals require the consent of the private owner (for example, privately owned roads or buildings), which gives owners a practical veto in those cases (s 9(1B)).\n\n- The Minister retains final decision‑making power and can intervene by requesting the Committee to consider particular names (s 11(1), (1A)). Delegation is permitted but limited to a prescribed set of routine or long‑established situations (s 11A(1)–(2)). That concentrates ultimate authority with the Minister or delegated official while allowing some administrative delegation for predictable cases.\n\n- The Act cross‑links to other laws (for example, the Burial and Cremation Act 2022 for the definition of public cemetery, and references to the Electoral Act 2004 and Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) Act 1976 (Cth) for scope and consultation) which means naming decisions can intersect with other statutory regimes (s 4A(1)(e); s 4A(2)(a); s 9(4)(b)).\n\n**Costs, incentives and trade‑offs (practical testing of the stated purpose)**\n\n- Administrative cost: the Territory bears the administrative and record‑keeping cost of the Committee, the register and consultation processes (ss 5, 11B). Proposers and consulted bodies bear time and resource costs to respond to consultation requests (s 9(1A), (4)).\n\n- Incentives and private behaviour: owners of roads/buildings can block or control naming changes by withholding agreement (s 9(1B)). Communities and interest groups are given formal input, which creates incentives to engage in the process but also creates coordination costs.\n\n- Implementation risk and discretion: the Minister’s power to approve, reject or return recommendations (s 11(1)) and to direct the Committee (s 11(1A)) centralise discretion; that can speed decisions when used but also risks politicisation or inconsistent outcomes if criteria or guidelines are not clear. Delegation is narrow and conditional (s 11A(2)), reducing routine administrative delay but leaving higher‑risk or novel cases for Ministerial decision.\n\n- Effects on markets and competition: the Act is primarily administrative and does not directly regulate prices or competition. However, official names can affect marketing, property development, postal/address services and wayfinding, with concentrated benefits to parties who obtain preferred names.\n\n- Substitution and overlap: the Act excludes places that are named under other Territory laws (s 4A(2)(c)), so where another statute gives naming power that other law governs.\n\n**Key sections to note**\n\n- Definition of place: s 4A.  \n- Committee established and membership: s 5 (and ss 6–7A on chair, terms and deputies).  \n- Consultation and recommendations: s 9 (including who must be consulted and owner consent rules in s 9(1B) and the list of “interested persons” in s 9(4)).  \n- Minister’s powers and ability to direct: s 11 (and s 11(1A)).  \n- Delegation and its limits: s 11A (esp. sub‑section (2)).  \n- Public register, recording and legal effect of names: ss 11B–11C.  \n\n"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original 1967 Act was a straightforward nomenclature ordinance focused on establishing a committee and basic ministerial approval. The 2004 amendments significantly expanded scope by: (1) creating a statutory Register (section 11B); (2) adding detailed consultation requirements with Aboriginal Land Councils and traditional owner organisations (section 9); (3) introducing a complex delegation framework for routine matters (section 11A); and (4) expanding the definition of 'place' to specifically include public infrastructure, nursing homes, and places of historic interest. The law evolved from simple administrative machinery to a comprehensive cultural heritage and community consultation framework."},"complexity_factors":["Moderate length (13 sections plus interpretation provisions)","7 defined terms in section 4, plus 'place' defined separately in section 4A with 7 inclusions and 3 exclusions","Nested consultation requirements in section 9 (mandatory pre-report consultation with multiple categories of 'interested persons')","Conditional delegation powers in section 11A with 6 specific sub-categories of delegated authority and worked examples","Cross-references to external legislation (Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976 (Cth), Burial and Cremation Act 2022, Electoral Act 2004, Licensed Surveyors Act 1983)","Exception structure in section 9(1B) requiring owner consent for private roads/buildings","Acting arrangements and deputy provisions creating overlapping roles (sections 6, 7A, 11A)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does:**\n\nThis law sets up the rules for naming places in the Northern Territory — everything from streets and parks to mountains and Aboriginal communities. It creates a **Place Names Committee** (a group of 4–6 appointed experts) to research and recommend names, and gives the **Minister** (a government minister) the final say on approving them.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n*   **Residents and landowners** — if you want to name a road, building, or geographic feature, or change an existing name, this law governs that process.\n*   **Local councils and Aboriginal Land Councils** — they must be consulted when places in their areas are being named.\n*   **Developers** — they need to engage with the Committee when naming new subdivisions or communities.\n*   **The general public** — the law ensures community views are sought and that there is a public register of all official place names.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nPlace names carry cultural, historical, and practical significance. This law ensures naming decisions aren't made arbitrarily by requiring consultation with traditional owners, local government, and affected families (especially when commemorating people). It also protects existing names and creates an official record (the **Register**) so everyone knows what places are actually called.\n\n**Key features:**\n\n*   **The Committee** investigates naming requests, seeks community input, and makes recommendations to the Minister.\n*   **The Minister** can approve, reject, or send back recommendations, and can direct the Committee to consider specific names.\n*   **Delegation** — routine naming tasks (like minor boundary changes or long-established community names) can be delegated to the Committee Chair or Surveyor-General, speeding up simple decisions.\n*   **Protection of existing names** — names in use before this law started remain valid unless officially changed.\n*   **Public register** — all approved names are recorded in a publicly accessible register, which is the official record of when a name takes effect."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/place-names-act-1967","history":"/api/acts/place-names-act-1967/history","analysis":"/api/acts/place-names-act-1967/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/place-names-act-1967/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/place-names-act-1967/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/place-names-act-1967/documents"}}