Protocol guidelines

The Administrator’s full title is: ‘His Honour Professor the Honourable Hugh Heggie AO PSM, Administrator of the Northern Territory’.

These protocol guidelines should be followed for:

• forms of address
• events
• media interviews.

Forms of address

How you address the Administrator depends on the following contexts.

The Administrator’s partner form of address does not change.

In conversation

When you speak with the Administrator for the first time, say “Your Honour” followed by “Sir/Ma'am”, pronounced with a short ‘a’ as in 'jam'.

In reference

To refer or introduce the Administrator to others, say “His/Her Honour the Administrator, the Honourable first name, surname”.

In written material

For written material like newsletters and programs, use “His/Her Honour the Honourable first name/surname/post nominal, Administrator of the Northern Territory”.

In formal correspondence

With formal correspondences like letters, use “Your Honour” and not “Dear Your Honour”.

Events

When the Administrator and their partner attend an event, you must follow these processes for their:

• arrival and departure
• seating
• speech (if applicable).

The Administrator will always be accompanied by their Official Secretary, a staff member or an Honorary Aide-de-Camp (ADC). Their name/s will be provided to you.

Arrival and departure

If the Administrator is attending your event, they must be the last to arrive.

You must also meet them at their official vehicle on arrival and escort them to the event.

During your event, you or a representative must remain in their company until they’re engaged in conversation with others.

Once your event has finished, the Administrator must be the first to leave and you must escort them back to their vehicle.

Seating

For a lunch or dinner, the Administrator must be seated to the right of the host and their partner to the left.

They must also always be introduced to other guests before seating them at the table.

The accompanying person attending with the Administrator should be seated where they are able to see and be seen by the Administrator, but not at the official table.

For presentations and aisle seating the Administrator and partner should be seated to the right of the host and as close as possible to the centre aisle of the front row.

Speech

Your request for the Administrator to make a speech should be included with your invitation.

Requests will be subject to consultation and approval by the Official Secretary.

If approved, you must provide speech notes at least 6 weeks before your event.

A lectern and a fixed microphone should be provided when necessary.

Media interviews

Your request for a media interview with the Administrator should be made in advance.

It’s also subject to consultation and approval by the Official Secretary.