Opinion

July 7, 2026

Every 1 July, the Northern Territory comes alive.

Families gather in backyards, parks and sporting grounds. Neighbours fire up the barbecue. Kids wait excitedly for the first fireworks to light up the sky. It is one of those rare occasions where entire communities come together simply to enjoy each other’s company.

To people watching from interstate, it might look like a night of fireworks. But Territorians know it is about something much more.

Territory Day marks the anniversary of self-government in 1978. It was the day the Northern Territory took responsibility for governing itself after decades of Territorians arguing that the people who live here understand this place better than anyone else. It was the beginning of what our first Chief Minister, Paul Everingham, described as “a new era” in which Territorians would finally have a hand in shaping their own destiny.

Self-government recognised a simple idea: the people who live here know the Territory best.

But self-government was never just about changing who made decisions. It reflected a belief that Territorians are capable of shaping their own future. Nearly five decades later, that belief still matters. The Territory is strongest when people take responsibility, back their communities and work together to build a better future.

We are still a young jurisdiction. Still growing. Still building communities. Still attracting people prepared to work hard and build a future. Every generation has helped leave the Territory stronger than it found it.

Now it’s our turn. The people who came before us took risks, solved problems and created opportunities where others saw only challenges. Our responsibility is to build on that legacy and leave an even stronger Territory for those who follow.

It reminds us that the story of the Northern Territory is still being written. Our greatest achievements may still lie ahead.

The people who built this place understood that nothing worthwhile comes easily. Aboriginal Australians, pastoralists, Defence families, small business owners, tradies, volunteers and countless others have all helped shape the Territory we know today. They came from different backgrounds, but they shared something in common: a willingness to work hard, take responsibility and build something bigger than themselves.

Distances are vast. The climate can be unforgiving. Living here teaches resilience, self-reliance and responsibility for ourselves, our families and our communities.

For many families it falls in the middle of the school holidays. The Northern Territory is the only part of Australia where families can legally buy and use fireworks on Territory Day. Like self-government, it reflects a belief that people are trusted to take responsibility for their own actions.

The Territory’s history has not always been easy. Like every part of Australia, we have experienced hardship, injustice and difficult chapters. As a proud Walpiri-Celtic woman who grew up here, I understand that personally.

Growing up in Central Australia taught me that resilience is part of who we are. People from different backgrounds have faced hardship, overcome adversity and built communities together. Our history should always be told honestly, but it should also give us confidence that we can continue building something even better.

Acknowledging our history should never diminish our confidence in the future. We should always be honest about where we have come from. But we should be just as confident about where we are going.

That is exactly what Territory Day celebrates.

For one night each year, families gather outside. Children look up in wonder. Communities celebrate the place they proudly call home.

The fireworks disappear before the night is over. But the responsibility that came with self-government continues every day.

Self-government isn’t just something we celebrate once a year. It’s something we live every day through the choices we make, the communities we build and the future we leave behind.

Nearly five decades after self-government, the work of building the Territory continues. Every generation writes another chapter.

Territory Day is not simply a celebration of what was achieved in 1978. It is a celebration of the generations of Territorians who fought for the right to shape their own future — and of every Territorian who will help shape what comes next.