- Where policy becomes law, and precision matters
- Lead the drafting of legislation that translates government policy into law
- Darwin location
The Northern Territory Government is seeking a Chief Parliamentary Counsel to lead the drafting of legislation that translates government policy into law.
In this role you will lead the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, delivering authoritative legislative drafting services and advising at the highest levels of government. Working closely with Ministers, Cabinet and senior executives, you will operate in an environment where clarity, judgement and timing are critical.
This is a role for a highly competent and proven senior legal professional with deep experience in managing a legislative drafting practice to deliver legislation that is strategic, contextual and often time-critical.
The Role
As Chief Parliamentary Counsel, you will lead and have overall responsibility for a highly specialised legal function at the centre of government.
You will:
- Lead and advise on the drafting of Bills, regulations and legislative instruments that give effect to government priorities while managing the whole of government legislative program reform, often within tight and competing timeframes
- Provide authoritative, strategic advice on legislative frameworks, statutory interpretation and the structure of legislation at the highest levels of government
- Operate as a key strategic partner to Ministers, Cabinet and senior executives on complex, sensitive and often urgent matters
- Lead and drive change within the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, ensuring best practice, innovation and reform to meet emerging government priorities and expectations
- Provide strong workforce leadership, building capability, resilience and performance within a specialist and professional team operating in a high-demand environment
- Set and uphold standards of excellence, ensuring legislative outputs are clear, effective, accessible and aligned with policy intent
- Navigate complex, sensitive and often ambiguous matters, exercising sound judgement and delivering outcomes in situations where precedent may be limited
- Build and maintain strategic relationships across government and nationally, representing the Northern Territory in cross-jurisdictional forums
The Person
This role requires more than technical excellence. It calls for an accomplished senior executive who combines deep technical expertise with sophisticated leadership capability.
You are an experienced legislative drafting professional with a deep understanding of public law and statutory interpretation, and a track record of operating in complex government environments.
You bring:
- Extensive experience drafting primary and subordinate legislation within a parliamentary or government setting, including matters of high complexity, sensitivity and urgency
- Demonstrated ability to lead in ambiguity, exercising sound judgment and delivering outcomes in complex and evolving environments
- Proven leadership capability, with experience developing and guiding specialist legal teams, and managing a multidisciplinary legislative program
- Strategic and change leadership capability, with experience shaping direction, influencing outcomes and evolving functions to meet shifting priorities
- The ability to translate policy intent into clear, legally robust legislative frameworks
- The credibility and communication skills to operate as a trusted adviser at senior levels of government
- You understand the realities of the role: Competing priorities, tight timeframes and high expectations and, you operate with clarity, composure and precision.
Eligibility
Admission as a legal practitioner in an Australian jurisdiction, with eligibility to hold an unrestricted practising certificate.
Why the Northern Territory
The Northern Territory offers a legislative environment that is both fast-moving and highly impactful.
You will work closer to decision-making than in larger jurisdictions, with direct exposure to Ministers and senior leaders, and the opportunity to see the full legislative lifecycle, from policy intent through to implementation. For the right person, this is a rare opportunity to step into an exciting legislative drafting environment, where your leadership makes a difference.
To view the microsite for this opportunity, please copy and paste the below link into your browser: https://www.davidsonwp.com/copy-of-chief-parliamentary-counsel
Confidential Enquiries & Applications
For a confidential discussion call Sam Wallace (0437 313 130) or Ash Stewart (0408 856 689) from Davidson Executive Search & Advisory or, to request further information, please email Sam.Wallace@davidsonwp.com or Ashleigh.Stewart@davidsonwp.com
Applications close 19 April 2026.
All enquiries will be treated in strict confidence.
