From the outside, the Northern Territory's politics could appear to be populated by the type of people who attract headlines.

Violent assaults, sex-shop antics, homophobic slurs, drunken propositions and Star Wars merchandise have all made their way into the news coverage about members of the Legislative Assembly through the years.

The recent case of Dave Tollner resigning reluctantly as Treasurer after calling a staffer a "pillow biter" and "shirt lifter" shocked many.

But for Territorians used to observing the local political scene, it could have been seen as the latest episode in the saga of Mr Tollner's controversies - and another to add to the list of Northern Territory political shenanigans and allegations of bad language and slurs.

After stepping down, Mr Tollner said he did not understand why his comments had caused such a fuss, since it was a "private conversation between mates", albeit in an office with a Government employee in a Government building during work hours.

He blasted members of his own party as "immature" and a "nest of vipers" for their lack of support for him during the events.

His leader, Country Liberal (CLP) Chief Minister Adam Giles, explained later Mr Tollner was "tired... and needs a rest".

Mr Tollner, seen by some as a "call a spade a shovel" kind of bloke, but mocked by others with the nickname "Dopey Dave", recently apologised for mimicking an Aboriginal politician.

Last year he stormed out of a CLP party meeting, reportedly throwing a stack of documents at then-leader Terry Mills.

Journalists in the firing line, punch ups and slurs

Former CLP politician Max Ortmann conveyed his displeasure with a series of questions put to him by ABC reporter Jeremy Thompson during a 1993 interview by winding a microphone cord around the journalist's windpipe.

Mr Thompson emerged relatively unscathed, but Mr Ortmann was found guilty of assault, fined and given a three-month good behaviour bond.

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Another Darwin journalist was not so lucky during a confrontation with former CLP backbencher Mick Palmer, who took out his false teeth before head-butting and punching his victim in the Petty Sessions bar in 1994.

Fellow CLP politician Mike Reed made the news in 1997 after he was sprung buying the pornographic DVDs "Hot Firemen" and "Highway Hunks" from a sex shop in King's Cross - later explaining to Parliament they were for research purposes.

In 2005, Labor's Chris Burns and the CLP's John Elferink were both suspended after an incident on the floor of Parliament during which Mr Burns repeatedly called out "poofter" towards Mr Elferink, who then suggested he and Mr Burns settle the issue outside.

Mr Elferink, who is now the Attorney-General, is not afraid of getting physical when the need arises.

In July this year he was involved in two punch-ups in a single day, one after witnessing a woman being subjected to violence in public.

Former Labor politician Matt Bonson exchanged punches with a fellow player at a basketball match and in another incident, urinated into bushes at a football match.

The Northern Territory Parliament in Darwin. ( ABC )

Mr Bonson was minister for sport and recreation in the Henderson government.

Mr Bonson's parliamentary colleague, former Labor backbencher Len Kiely, landed himself in strife after making lewd and suggestive comments to a female security guard at an international cricket match in Darwin.

Mr Kiely later admitted to being so drunk in a corporate box he could not remember confronting the 61-year-old guard who had called last drinks.

When refused alcohol Mr Kiely demanded a kiss and told her: "I have a very long tongue and I could use it on you and make you a very happy woman."

He was later made minister for parks and wildlife.

In the 1980s former CLP politician Barry Coulter wanted to demonstrate the safety of water at a pond at Ranger uranium mine in Kakadu after green groups claimed it was contaminated.

In front of stunned media, Mr Coulter scooped up a glass from the pond and drank it.

Home appliances and a Darth Vader voice changer

Former Richmond Football Club star turned politician Maurice Rioli admitted to the theft of a television and microwave to feed a gambling addiction.

Peter Adamson was found guilty of criminal offences after buying a fridge and claiming the money back. ( 7.30, file image )

It was a fridge that caused former TV sports newsreader, turned local Member for Casuarina, turned Darwin Lord Mayor, Peter Adamson to do time in the cooler.

In 2007 Mr Adamson was found guilty of criminal offences after buying the fridge and claiming the money back, saying he had given it to the charity St Vincent de Pauls.

The fridge was later tracked down to an apartment occupied by Mr Adamson and his girlfriend.

He was also convicted of using gift vouchers worth $1,800 to buy liquor, apparel - including women's underwear - and a toy mask that changed the wearer's voice to sound like Darth Vader.

Charged by police and still free before the case went to court - and in the full glare of local media coverage - Mr Adamson arrived at a New Year's Eve party dressed as a fridge, accompanied by his girlfriend, dressed as Northern Territory police officer.

"It was New Year's Eve, a fancy dress do. I thought I'd be tongue and cheek and see what the response was like. Well, the response was enormous," he told the ABC.

Lee's story sold to magazine

In June this year Member for Arnhem Larisa Lee pleaded guilty to assaulting her 20-year-old niece for having an affair with her husband.

Ms Lee - who resigned from the ruling CLP amid allegations of racism - told the court she was embarrassed at the media attention the case had brought.

NT politician Larisa Lee's story as it appeared in Take 5 magazine

This week, Ms Lee's account of her family breakdown appeared in a two-page story in Take 5 magazine, which pays contributors for their stories.

Ms Lee said she gave the proceeds of her story to a medical research fund.

However, one of the most notorious stories of bad behaviour was perpetrated not by NT politicians, but a government worker.

He admitted to celebrating his final day by having sex with his girlfriend in the Speaker's chair (Tasmanian black oak and leather) and on the table (Tasmanian brushbox) in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly chamber.

In an attempt to identify the culprits Parliament House staff reviewed surveillance material from the seven video cameras and voice-activated microphones in the chamber.

Footage of the incident - described by Clerk of the Legislative Assembly Ian McNeil as an "affront to the dignity of the institution" - has never been made public.

This week former Labor, turned independent, turned CLP, turned Palmer United Party (PUP) member Alison Anderson called for the NT Parliament to be shut down in the wake of her colleague - former CLP, turned PUP, turned CLP member - Francis Xavier's return to Government ranks.

"I've called for the Federal Government and Tony Abbott to come in and dismantle the Northern Territory Parliament," Ms Anderson said.

If that happened, the electorate of the Northern Territory would certainly have a lot less to talk about.