2025 Local Government Elections: internal review into the lodgement of campaign donation return - candidate Peter Styles

The NT Electoral Commission (NTEC) has completed an internal review into the campaign donation return lodgement by candidate Peter Styles associated with the 2025 Local Government Elections.

The internal review was conducted by the Manager Financial Disclosure and Compliance finding no evidence to substantiate the claim by Mr Styles that the return was received by the NTEC prior to 27 January 2026.

The internal review activities included inspection of system records, review of correspondence and interviews with NTEC officers.

The campaign donation return for Mr Styles were published by the NTEC on 30 January 2026 following confirmation of donor details.

The publication date will not be amended by the NTEC as no omission or error was identified.

The NTEC does not intend to take any further action. The NTEC is taking a constructive compliance approach, acknowledging the 2025 Local Government Elections were the first periodic general elections held since the donation disclosure provisions of the Local Government Act (Part 8.6) came into effect on 1 July 2022.

Protecting the integrity of the electoral process is critical to maintaining public trust in democratic processes. Where matters have been raised in the public domain it is appropriate that members of the public continue to have access to accurate information relating to such matters.