NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
TOURISM AND EVENTS NT ACT 2012
As in force at 22 December 2025
Table of provisions
Part 1 Preliminary matters
1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1
2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1
3 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1
4 Application of Criminal Code ........................................................... 2
Part 2 Tourism and Events NT
Division 1 General matters
5 Establishment of Tourism and Events NT ....................................... 2
6 Use of alternate name ..................................................................... 2
Division 2 Functions and powers
7 Functions ......................................................................................... 2
8 Powers............................................................................................. 3
9 Ministerial control............................................................................. 3
10 Delegation ....................................................................................... 4
Division 3 Constitution of Tourism and Events NT
11 Constitution...................................................................................... 4
12 Chief executive officer ..................................................................... 4
13 Acting chief executive officer ........................................................... 4
Part 2A Advisory Board
Division 1 Establishment and membership of Advisory
Board
14 Establishment of Advisory Board ..................................................... 5
14A Functions and powers of Advisory Board ........................................ 5
14B Chairperson ..................................................................................... 5
15 Duration of appointment .................................................................. 5
16 Leave of absence ............................................................................ 5
17 Vacation of office ............................................................................. 6
18 Termination of appointment ............................................................. 6
Tourism and Events NT Act 2012 ii
Division 2 Procedures of Advisory Board
19 Procedures ...................................................................................... 7
20 Meetings .......................................................................................... 7
21 Quorum............................................................................................ 7
22 Presiding at meeting ........................................................................ 7
23 Voting at meeting............................................................................. 7
24 Records of meetings........................................................................ 7
25 Disclosure of personal interest ........................................................ 7
26 Effect of a personal interest ............................................................. 8
Part 3 Miscellaneous matters
27 Appointment of staff ......................................................................... 9
27A Consultants may be engaged .......................................................... 9
27B Reserve Fund .................................................................................. 9
28 Annual report ................................................................................. 10
29 Protection from liability .................................................................. 10
30 Offence to disclose certain information .......................................... 11
31 Regulations.................................................................................... 11
Part 4 Repeals
32 Repeals ......................................................................................... 12
Part 5 Transitional matters for Tourism NT
Amendment (Integration of NTMEC) Act
2025
33 Definitions ...................................................................................... 12
34 Tourism and Events NT succeeds Tourism NT ............................. 12
35 Continuation of chief executive officer ........................................... 13
36 Cessation of appointments ............................................................ 13
37 Transitional regulations ................................................................. 13
Schedule Repealed Acts
ENDNOTES
NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
As in force at 22 December 2025
TOURISM AND EVENTS NT ACT 2012
An Act to establish Tourism and Events NT and for related purposes
Part 1 Preliminary matters
1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Tourism and Events NT Act 2012.
2 Commencement
This Act commences on the day fixed by the Administrator by
Gazette notice.
3 Definitions
In this Act:
Advisory Board means the Tourism and Events Advisory Board
established by the Minster under section 14(1).
board member means a member of the Advisory Board mentioned
in section 14(2).
chairperson means the chairperson of the Advisory Board
mentioned in section 14B.
chief executive officer means the chief executive officer of
Tourism and Events NT mentioned in section 12(1).
ordinary member means a member of the Advisory Board
mentioned in section 14(2)(b).
Reserve Fund means the fund maintained under section 27B.
Note for section 3
The Interpretation Act 1978 contains definitions and other provisions that may be
relevant to this Act.
Part 2 Tourism and Events NT
Division 2 Functions and powers
Tourism and Events NT Act 2012 2
4 Application of Criminal Code
Part IIAA of the Criminal Code applies to an offence against this
Act.
Note for section 4
Part IIAA of the Criminal Code states the general principles of criminal
responsibility, establishes general defences, and deals with burden of proof. It
also defines, or elaborates on, certain concepts commonly used in the creation of
offences.
Part 2 Tourism and Events NT
Division 1 General matters
5 Establishment of Tourism and Events NT
(1) Tourism and Events NT is established.
(2) Tourism and Events NT:
(a) is a body corporate with perpetual succession; and
(c) is capable, in its corporate name, of acquiring, holding and
disposing of real (including leasehold) and personal property
and of suing and being sued.
6 Use of alternate name
Tourism and Events NT may exercise its powers and perform its
functions under the name "Tourism and Events Northern Territory".
Division 2 Functions and powers
7 Functions
The functions of Tourism and Events NT are:
(a) to market the Territory as a desirable visitor destination; and
(b) to encourage and facilitate the sustainable growth of the
tourism industry in the Territory; and
(c) to advise the Minister on all matters relating to tourism,
hospitality, events and exhibitions in the Territory; and
(ca) to identify and attract events and exhibitions for the Territory
that contribute to the benefit of the Territory; and
Part 2 Tourism and Events NT
Division 2 Functions and powers
Tourism and Events NT Act 2012 3
(cb) to work independently or in collaboration with third parties to
coordinate and deliver events and exhibitions; and
(d) any other functions conferred on it by this or any other Act.
8 Powers
(1) Tourism and Events NT has the powers necessary or convenient to
perform its functions.
(2) In particular, Tourism and Events NT has power to:
(a) acquire, hold and dispose of real (including leasehold) and
personal property; and
(b) improve any real or personal property owned by, or under the
control of, Tourism and Events NT; and
(c) negotiate and enter into contracts, agreements, schemes and
arrangements; and
(d) purchase, lease or hire plant, machinery, equipment or other
things for the purpose of performing the functions; and
(e) with the Treasurer's approval and subject to the Financial
Management Act 1995, grant guarantees or indemnities for, or
otherwise assume responsibility for, the obligations of
persons; and
(f) with the Treasurer's approval:
(i) borrow, lend, raise or invest money; and
(ii) form or participate in the formation of an incorporated
body, partnership or trust; and
(g) sell or distribute tickets for events and exhibitions; and
(h) accept or refund money in respect of the sale or distribution of
tickets for events and exhibitions.
9 Ministerial control
Tourism and Events NT is subject to the directions of the Minister in
the performance of its functions and exercise of its powers.
Part 2 Tourism and Events NT
Division 3 Constitution of Tourism and Events NT
Tourism and Events NT Act 2012 4
10 Delegation
Tourism and Events NT may delegate any of its powers and
functions under this or any other Act to any of the following:
(a) the chief executive officer of an Agency;
(b) a member of the staff of Tourism and Events NT;
(c) a public sector employee.
Division 3 Constitution of Tourism and Events NT
11 Constitution
Tourism and Events NT consists of the chief executive officer.
12 Chief executive officer
(1) The Chief Minister may, in writing, appoint a person to be the chief
executive officer of Tourism and Events NT.
(3) If Tourism and Events NT is an Agency, the chief executive officer
is the Chief Executive Officer of Tourism and Events NT for the
Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993.
(4) The chief executive officer administers the day-to-day operations of
Tourism and Events NT.
(5) Tourism and Events NT acts through the chief executive officer.
(6) Anything done by the chief executive officer in the name of, or for,
Tourism and Events NT is taken to have been done by Tourism and
Events NT.
13 Acting chief executive officer
(1) The Minister may, in writing, appoint a person to act as chief
executive officer of Tourism and Events NT:
(a) during any period, or during all periods, when the chief
executive officer is absent from duty; or
(b) during a vacancy in the office.
(2) A person appointed to act as chief executive officer during a
vacancy in the office must not continue to act for more than
12 months after the occurrence of the vacancy.
Part 2A Advisory Board
Division 1 Establishment and membership of Advisory Board
Tourism and Events NT Act 2012 5
Part 2A Advisory Board
Division 1 Establishment and membership of Advisory Board
14 Establishment of Advisory Board
(1) The Minister may, in writing, establish the Tourism and Events
Advisory Board to perform the functions mentioned in section 14A.
(2) The Advisory Board consists of the following board members:
(a) the chief executive officer;
(b) not fewer than 6 ordinary members appointed by the Minister.
14A Functions and powers of Advisory Board
(1) The functions of the Advisory Board are to advise and make
recommendations to the Minister on strategic issues and matters
that relate to or impact the following:
(a) the powers and functions of Tourism and Events NT;
(b) tourism, hospitality, events and exhibitions in the Territory.
(2) The Advisory Board has the powers necessary to perform the
Advisory Board's functions.
(3) The Minister is not required to accept the advice or
recommendations of the Advisory Board and may reject or adopt
them, in whole or in part, as the Minister thinks appropriate.
14B Chairperson
The Minister may, in writing, appoint a board member to be the
chairperson of the Advisory Board.
15 Duration of appointment
(1) An ordinary member holds office for 2 years or the shorter period
specified in the appointment.
(2) An ordinary member is eligible for reappointment.
16 Leave of absence
The Advisory Board may grant a board member leave of absence
on conditions determined by the Advisory Board.
Part 2A Advisory Board
Division 1 Establishment and membership of Advisory Board
Tourism and Events NT Act 2012 6
17 Vacation of office
(1) A person ceases to be an ordinary member of the Advisory Board
if:
(a) the person resigns by giving written notice to the Minister; or
(b) the person's term of office comes to an end and the person is
not reappointed; or
(c) the person's appointment is terminated under section 18(1)
or (2).
(2) The exercise of a power or performance of a function by the
Advisory Board is not affected only by a vacancy in its membership.
18 Termination of appointment
(1) The Minister may terminate the appointment of an ordinary member
for inability, inefficiency, misbehaviour or physical or mental
incapacity.
(2) The Minister must terminate the appointment of an ordinary
member:
(a) if the ordinary member is absent from 3 consecutive meetings
of the Advisory Board without leave granted under section 16;
or
(b) if the ordinary member is found guilty of an offence of such a
nature that it would be inappropriate for the person to continue
to be an ordinary member; or
(c) if the ordinary member:
(i) becomes bankrupt; or
(ii) applies to take the benefit of a law for the relief of
bankrupt or insolvent debtors; or
(iii) compounds with creditors or makes an assignment of
the ordinary member's remuneration for their benefit.
(3) A termination of appointment must be made in writing.
Part 2A Advisory Board
Division 2 Procedures of Advisory Board
Tourism and Events NT Act 2012 7
Division 2 Procedures of Advisory Board
19 Procedures
Subject to this Act, the Advisory Board may determine its own
procedures.
20 Meetings
The chairperson may convene a meeting of the Advisory Board at
any time as is necessary to exercise the powers and perform the
functions of the Advisory Board, but must convene at least
4 meetings each financial year.
21 Quorum
Subject to section 26(1)(c), the quorum for a meeting of the
Advisory Board is a majority of board members.
22 Presiding at meeting
A meeting of the Advisory Board is to be presided over by:
(a) the chairperson; or
(b) in the absence of the chairperson, a board member elected by
the board members present at the meeting.
23 Voting at meeting
(1) A decision at a meeting of the Advisory Board must be determined
by the majority vote of board members present and voting.
(2) If there is an equality of votes, the person presiding at the meeting
has a casting vote in addition to the person's deliberative vote.
24 Records of meetings
The Advisory Board must keep accurate records of its meetings.
25 Disclosure of personal interest
(1) This section applies if a board member has a personal interest in a
matter being considered or about to be considered by the Advisory
Board.
Part 2A Advisory Board
Division 2 Procedures of Advisory Board
Tourism and Events NT Act 2012 8
(2) The board member must disclose the following at a meeting of the
Advisory Board as soon as practicable after the relevant facts come
to the board member's knowledge:
(a) the nature and extent of the personal interest;
(b) how the interest relates to the matter mentioned in
subsection (1).
(3) The disclosure must be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
(4) For this section, a board member has a personal interest in a
matter if the board member:
(a) has a direct or indirect financial interest in the matter
otherwise than as a member of, and in common with the other
members of, an incorporated company consisting of not less
than 25 persons and of which the board member is not a
director; or
(b) has a personal, professional, commercial or other relationship
with a person and the nature of the relationship is likely to, or
may reasonably be regarded as likely to, inhibit or prevent the
board member from exercising independent judgment about
the matter.
26 Effect of a personal interest
(1) If a board member has a personal interest in a matter that is
required to be disclosed under section 25:
(a) the board member must not take part in any deliberation or
decision of the Advisory Board about the matter; and
(b) the board member must be disregarded for the purpose of
constituting the quorum of the Advisory Board for the
deliberation or decision; and
(c) the quorum for the deliberation or decision is a majority of
board members entitled to participate in the deliberation or
decision.
(2) Despite subsection (1), a failure by the board member to disclose
the interest in the matter does not, on its own, invalidate any
decision of the Advisory Board about the matter.
Part 3 Miscellaneous matters
Tourism and Events NT Act 2012 9
Part 3 Miscellaneous matters
27 Appointment of staff
In addition to staff employed under the Public Sector Employment
and Management Act 1993, Tourism and Events NT may, on the
terms and conditions it considers appropriate, employ any other
persons it considers necessary for the purposes of Tourism and
Events NT.
27A Consultants may be engaged
Tourism and Events NT may engage consultants and advisers for
the purposes of performing its functions.
27B Reserve Fund
(1) Tourism and Events NT may maintain in the operating account a
fund to be known as the Reserve Fund.
(2) Any money received by Tourism and Events NT from the sale or
distribution of tickets for events or exhibitions must be paid into the
Reserve Fund.
(3) Tourism and Events NT may arrange a refund of money mentioned
in subsection (2) paid to Tourism and Events NT in error or in the
circumstances in which, in the opinion of the chief executive officer,
a refund is necessary.
(4) Money in the Reserve Fund must only be applied for the following
purposes:
(a) paying for costs and expenses incurred, or to be incurred, in
relation to the coordination and delivery of events and
exhibitions;
(b) payment of a refund under subsection (3);
(c) performance of the functions under section 7;
(d) exercise of the powers under section 8.
(5) If, at the end of a financial year, there is surplus money remaining in
the Reserve Fund, that money must be:
(a) retained in the Reserve Fund; and
(b) applied to the following financial year for the purposes
mentioned in subsection (4).
Part 3 Miscellaneous matters
Tourism and Events NT Act 2012 10
28 Annual report
(1) The chief executive officer must prepare and give to the Minister a
report on the performance by Tourism and Events NT of its
functions during each financial year.
(2) The report must be given to the Minister within 6 months after the
end of the financial year or such other period as the Minister
determines.
(3) The Minister must table a copy of the report, together with the
financial statement and report of the Auditor-General on the
financial statement required under section 10 or 11 of the Financial
Management Act 1995, in the Legislative Assembly within 6 sitting
days of the Assembly after the delivery of the later of the reports to
the Minister.
29 Protection from liability
(1) A person is not civilly or criminally liable for an act done or omitted
to be done by the person in good faith in the exercise of a power or
performance of a function as any of the following:
(a) the chief executive officer;
(b) a board member of the Advisory Board;
(c) a member of the staff of Tourism and Events NT.
(2) In addition, the person is not civilly or criminally liable for an act
done or omitted to be done by Tourism and Events NT in the
exercise of a power or performance of a function under this Act.
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not affect any liability the Territory or
Tourism and Events NT would, apart from those subsections, have
for the act or omission.
(4) In this section:
exercise, of a power, includes the purported exercise of the power.
performance, of a function, includes the purported performance of
a function.
Part 3 Miscellaneous matters
Tourism and Events NT Act 2012 11
30 Offence to disclose certain information
(1) A person commits an offence if:
(a) the person obtains information in the course of performing a
function connected with the administration of this Act or
exercising a power under this Act; and
(b) the information is confidential and the person is reckless in
relation to that circumstance; and
(c) the person intentionally engages in conduct; and
(d) the conduct results in the disclosure of the information and the
disclosure is not:
(i) for a purpose connected with the administration of this
Act, including a legal proceeding arising out of the
operation of this Act; or
(ii) to a person who is otherwise entitled to the
information; and
(e) the person is reckless in relation to the result and
circumstance referred to in paragraph (d).
Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units or imprisonment for
2 years.
(2) Strict liability applies to subsection (1)(a).
(3) If the information referred to in subsection (1) relates to a person, it
is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against that subsection
if the person consented to the disclosure of the information.
Note for subsection (3)
In addition to the circumstances mentioned in this section, a person who
discloses information mentioned in this section will not be criminally responsible
for an offence if the disclosure is justified or excused by or under a law (see
section 43BE of the Criminal Code).
31 Regulations
The Administrator may make regulations under this Act.
Note for section 31
See section 65 of the Interpretation Act 1978.
Part 5 Transitional matters for Tourism NT Amendment (Integration of NTMEC) Act
2025
Tourism and Events NT Act 2012 12
Part 4 Repeals
32 Repeals
The Acts specified in the Schedule are repealed.
Part 5 Transitional matters for Tourism NT
Amendment (Integration of NTMEC) Act 2025
33 Definitions
In this Part:
amending Act means the Tourism NT Amendment (Integration of
NTMEC) Act 2025.
commencement means the commencement of section 7 of the
amending Act.
Commission means the commission established under section 5
of this Act before the commencement.
NTMEC means Northern Territory Major Events Company Pty Ltd
(ABN 22 085 961 520).
Tourism NT means the body corporate known as Tourism NT that
was continued in existence before the commencement of section 7
of the amending Act.
34 Tourism and Events NT succeeds Tourism NT
(1) Tourism and Events NT is a continuation of Tourism NT.
(2) On and from the commencement, in an instrument, contract or
document of any other kind:
(a) a reference to Tourism NT or the Commission, is taken to be a
reference to Tourism and Events NT; and
(b) a reference to the Tourism NT Act 2012 or a provision of that
Act is to be taken to be a reference to this Act as in force after
the commencement or the most equivalent provision of this
Act (as the case requires).
Part 5 Transitional matters for Tourism NT Amendment (Integration of NTMEC) Act
2025
Tourism and Events NT Act 2012 13
(3) On and from the commencement:
(a) all property, rights, liabilities and obligations of Tourism NT or
the Commission are the property, rights, liabilities and
obligations of Tourism and Events NT; and
(b) if Tourism NT or the Commission is a party to any contract,
agreement or arrangement immediately before the
commencement, Tourism and Events NT is substituted as a
party to that contract, agreement or arrangement.
(4) All levies, fees, charges, interest, debts or money that are payable
to and recoverable by Tourism NT or the Commission immediately
before the commencement are payable to and recoverable by
Tourism and Events NT, after the commencement.
(5) Any act, matter or thing done or to be done by or on behalf of
Tourism NT or the Commission before the commencement are
regarded as done or are to be done by or on behalf of Tourism and
Events NT, as the case may be, after the commencement.
35 Continuation of chief executive officer
Despite the amendments to section 12 by the amending Act, the
chief executive officer holding office immediately before the
commencement continues under this Act as the chief executive
officer.
36 Cessation of appointments
Any person who is a commissioner immediately before the
commencement ceases to be a commissioner on the
commencement.
37 Transitional regulations
(1) A regulation may provide for a matter of a transitional nature
because of the enactment of the amending Act.
(2) Without limiting to subsection (1), a regulation may provide for a
matter of a transitional nature if:
(a) it is necessary to make provision to allow or facilitate the doing
of anything to give effect to NTMEC's integration with Tourism
and Events NT and any transaction or other matter, action or
event required for the establishment and operation of Tourism
and Events NT before and after the integration, including
anything arising out of, or for giving effect to:
Part 5 Transitional matters for Tourism NT Amendment (Integration of NTMEC) Act
2025
Tourism and Events NT Act 2012 14
(i) the winding up and deregistration of NTMEC; and
(ii) the transfer of NTMEC's assets, contracts, permits and
licences, intellectual property, interests, rights, benefits,
activities, operations and functions to Tourism and
Events NT; and
(iii) the management of NTMEC liabilities and other
contractual obligations; and
(b) this Act does not make provision or sufficient provision.
(3) The regulation may have retrospective operation to a day not earlier
than the commencement.
(4) Despite subsection (3), to the extent to which the regulation has
retrospective operation, it does not operate to the disadvantage of a
person (other than the Territory or a Territory authority) by:
(a) decreasing the person's rights; or
(b) imposing liabilities on the person.
(5) The regulation must state it is made under this section.
(6) This section, and each regulation made under it, is repealed 1 year
after the commencement.
ENDNOTES
Tourism and Events NT Act 2012 16
ENDNOTES
1 KEY Key to abbreviations
amd = amended od = order
app = appendix om = omitted
bl = by-law pt = Part
ch = Chapter r = regulation/rule
cl = clause rem = remainder
div = Division renum = renumbered
exp = expires/expired rep = repealed
f = forms s = section
Gaz = Gazette sch = Schedule
hdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision
ins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation
lt = long title sub = substituted
nc = not commenced
2 LIST OF LEGISLATION
Tourism NT Act 2012 (Act No. 22, 2012)
Assent date 8 November 2012
Commenced 16 November 2012 (Gaz S67, 13 November 2012)
Tourism NT Amendment (Integration of NTMEC) Act 2025 (Act No. 34, 2025)
Assent date 5 December 2025
Commenced 22 December 2025 (Gaz G25, 18 December 2025, p 1)
3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS
General amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table
of amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation
Amendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: ss 3, 12, 27 and 28.
4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS
lt sub No. 34, 2025, s 4
s 1 amd No. 34, 2025, s 5
s 3 amd No. 34, 2025, s 6
pt 2 hdg amd No. 34, 2025, s 23
s 5 amd No. 34, 2025, s 7
s 6 sub No. 34, 2025, s 8
s 7 amd No. 34, 2025, s 9
s 8 amd No. 34, 2025, s 10
s 9 amd No. 34, 2025, s 23
s 10 sub No. 34, 2025, s 11
pt 2
div 3 hdg sub No. 34, 2025, s 11
s 11 sub No. 34, 2025, s 11
s 12 amd No. 34, 2025, s 12
s 13 amd No. 34, 2025, s 23
ENDNOTES
Tourism and Events NT Act 2012 17
pt 2A hdg ins No. 34, 2025, s 13
pt 2A
div 1 hdg ins No. 34, 2025, s 13
s 14 sub No. 34, 2025, s 13
ss 14A – 14B ins No. 34, 2025, s 13
s 15 amd No. 34, 2025, s 23
s 16 sub No. 34, 2025, s 14
s 17 amd No. 34, 2025, s 15
s 18 amd No. 34, 2025, s 23
pt 2
div 4 hdg sub No. 34, 2025, s 16
s 19 amd No. 34, 2025, s 23
s 20 sub No. 34, 2025, s 17
ss 21 – 27 amd No. 34, 2025, s 23
ss 27A – 27B ins No. 34, 2025, s 18
s 28 amd No. 34, 2025, s 23
s 29 amd No. 34, 2025, s 19
s 30 sub No. 34, 2025, s 20
s 31 amd No. 34, 2025, s 21
pt 5 hdg exp No. 22, 2012, s 35
ins No. 34, 2025, s 22
ss 33 – 35 exp No. 22, 2012, s 35
ins No. 34, 2025, s 22
ss 36 – 37 ins No. 34, 2025, s 22