NT Government announces first cabinet reshuffle, Gunner passes on police, Aboriginal portfolios
Updated
The Northern Territory Government has announced its first cabinet reshuffle since coming to power two years ago, promoting backbencher Selena Uibo, and giving Chief Minister Michael Gunner the new role of Minister for Treaty.
The new NT Labor cabinet:
- Michael Gunner — Chief Minister, Minister for Children, Minister for Treaty, Minister for Trade & Major Projects, Minister for Northern Australia
- Nicole Manison — Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Police, Fire & Emergency Services, Minister for Business & Innovation
- Natasha Fyles — Attorney-General & Minister for Justice, Minister for Health, Leader of Government Business
- Gerry McCarthy — Minister for Housing & Community Development, Minister for Public Employment
- Ken Vowles — Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Minister for Primary Industry & Resources, Minister for the Arafura Games
- Lauren Moss — Minister for Tourism & Culture, Minister for Corporate Information Services
- Eva Lawler — Minister for Infrastructure, Planning & Logistics, Minister for Environment & Natural Resources
- Dale Wakefield — Minister for Territory Families, Minister for Renewables and Essential Services
- Selena Uibo — Minister for Education, Minister for Workforce Training
But the Chief Minister passes on the two major portfolios of Aboriginal affairs and police.
Mr Gunner also becomes Minister for Children, which was until recently held by his deputy Nicole Manison.
She remains in her other roles as Treasurer and also takes over the police portfolio, which is traditionally held by the Chief Minister.
Mr Gunner has also passed the portfolio of Aboriginal affairs to Aboriginal MLA Ken Vowles, who announced his interest in the role earlier in the year, saying an Aboriginal minister should be in the role.
He will also remain as Minister for Primary Industry and Resources, and Minister for the Arafura Games.
Ms Uibo is new to politics, winning the seat of Arnhem in 2016, and joins Cabinet as the ninth minster, taking the portfolio of education from Eva Lawler and gaining a new portfolio of workplace training.
Ms Lawler takes over the environment portfolio from Lauren Moss, along with Ms Manison's portfolio of infrastructure, planning, and logistics.
Ms Moss remains Minister of Tourism and Culture, and Minister for Corporate and Information Services.
"Her wealth of knowledge and experience as an award-winning remote teacher will continue our focus on fixing schools after four years of CLP cuts," Mr Gunner said in a press release on Tuesday morning.
The ABC understands Ms Uibo was one of five backbenchers to put their hand up for the new role, but some backbenchers say the outcome was a given and suggested her appointment was based on politics, not merit.
Several backbenchers have told the ABC the Labor leadership is not listening to them, but all say they remain committed to the Government's agenda.
The reshuffle is the Labor Government's first since it was elected in a landslide victory in August 2016 winning 18 of 25 seats in the Legislative Assembly, and places it at the halfway point to the 2020 election.
Topics: politics-and-government, government-and-politics, darwin-0800, nt
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