Category Archives: Chief Minister
Northern Territory: New Gunner Labor Ministry
Michael Gunner, the new Chief Minister of the Northern Territory announced his first Cabinet of three, on 1 September, following Labor’s victory in the NT election held on 27 August 2016.
On 11 September 2016, today, he announced his second Cabinet; the new Ministers are listed below, with some short biographies*.
Had Lynne Walker been re-elected the Member for Nhulunbuy, she would have been Deputy Chief Minister, and the closeness of the vote in that election delayed finalisation of the full Ministry.
All other Labor MPs have been made Assistant Ministers, listed below, and the Government has decided to support the current Speaker, former CLP MLA Kezia Purick, continuing in that role.
The new Gunner Government has moved rapidly to terminate Chief Executives, amalgamate agencies, and implement other Machinery of Government changes: www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/sep/08/northern-territory-axes-ceos-and-amalgamates-departments-under-public-service-shake-up
The election for a Legislative Assembly of 25 saw the Country-Liberal Party government of Adam Giles reduced to 2 seats, Labor secure 18, and independents have 5. Of the 25, twelve are women; 6 identify as being of aboriginal descent. Of the Cabinet of 8, 5 are women – a majority; 1 identifies as being of aboriginal descent.
This is the greatest proportion of women in any legislature** of any Australian jurisdiction, ever, and the (equal) greatest proportion of indigenous members in any legislature** of any Australian jurisdiction, ever – matching part of the 2005 to 2008 term of the NT Legislative Assembly.
Michael Gunner |
Michael Gunner is a fourth generation Territorian whose family have lived and worked here since the 1930’s. Born on 6 January 1976 in Alice Springs, he is the first Northern Territory-born Chief Minister. He was educated in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek, and Darwin and Northern Territory University. He has represented the Territory in Rugby Union and at various times has played cricket for PINTS, and soccer for the Verdi Club in Alice Springs. Michael has previously worked stocking shelves at Woolworths, as a union organiser, an electorate officer, and a ministerial adviser. He was first elected in August 2008 and became Labor Leader in April 2015. Michael’s partner is Kristy O’Brien. |
| Nicole was born in 1979 in Tennant Creek and grew up in her Wanguri electorate. She attended local schools including Holy Spirit School, Dripstone Middle School and Casuarina Senior College before attending Curtin University in Perth and securing a Bachelor of Mass Communication. Nicole has been the Member for Wanguri since February 2013 when she won the seat in a by-election. Prior to entering Parliament, she worked for PowerWater and government departments in a range of Communications and Human Resource, as an adviser to several Ministers in the previous Labor Government, and in the private sector in Perth. Nicole plays and coaches for Waratah Netball Club, and lives in her electorate with her husband Scott Mc Neill, and son Aiden. |  Nicole Manison Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Infrastructure, Planning, and Logistics, and Minister for Children Member for Wanguri |
Natasha Fyles |
Natasha was born at the old Darwin hospital on 26 May 1978, grew up in the Northern suburbs and lives with her husband Paul Archbold and sons Oliver and Henry in Nightcliff. She went to school in Darwin, and after completing her teaching degree at University of Canberra, returned to Darwin as a teacher for five years before travelling and working overseas. Natasha became Executive Director of Royal Life Saving Society NT and was active in the community including local swimming clubs, and Vice President of Nightcliff Family Childcare Centre. She also worked as an aquatic administration assistant for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and as a public servant. She was first elected in 2012. |
| First elected in 2008, Gerry McCarthy is the only member of Cabinet with previous Ministerial experience: in the course or several reshuffles he had responsibility for Transport, Correctional Services, Arts and Museums, Senior Territorians, Young Territorians, Lands and Planning, and Construction. Gerry was born on 30 June 1958, and worked for 28 years, mostly as a teacher in remote schools, and in and around Borroloola and Tennant Creek. He played a key role in founding five Barkly schools and is active in many sporting, cultural and arts initiatives throughout the region. | 
Gerry McCarthy |
Ken Vowles |
Ken grew up as part of a huge Territory family, born on 29 September 1971 in Darwin. He attended pre-school and school in Jingili, and later won a scholarship to spend a year at the Australian Cricket Academy. He is a former Australian Under-17s and Under-19s cricketer and he played A grade cricket in Adelaide for many years. As an under 19 Ken scored the then fastest ever century at the MCG; he’s also represented the NT in numerous cricket competitions and has coached and played in Malaysia. Before entering parliament Vowles set up and ran a specialist cricket coaching centre in Darwin. He was one of three indigenous cricketers to take part in a Chief Ministers XI cricket match against a touring Bangladesh team at Marrara in July 2003. Ken has a wide range of experience working with disadvantaged people and communities across the Territory. His successful candidacy in 2012 was marred by controversy over his spent assault conviction from a fight in 1992. |
| Lauren was born in Crewe, United Kingdom, on 6 May 1987, and emigrated to Australia in 1999. She grew up in Nakara where her parents have taught in local schools, and Her Bachelor of Business was gained through Charles Darwin University and Monash University. Prior to entering politics, she ran a small business providing professional development and worked as a project officer at Headspace, providing mental health services support. Her community and youth development work have been recognised locally and nationally. She was honoured to receive the Excellence in Youth Leadership award at the NT Young Achiever Awards, the NT Pride of Australia Young Leader Medal. She was a finalist in the NT Young Australian of the Year, Darwin City Council Young Citizen of the Year and the Australian Woman’s Weekly Women of the Future. When elected to Parliament in 2014, she became the youngest ever Northern Territory Member of Parliament, and the second of Indian descent. Her partner is Jake Lutz. | 
Lauren Moss |
Eva Lawler |
Lawler was born and bred in Darwin: her family was evacuated after Cyclone Tracey but returned shortly afterwards, and she then started her secondary education at Darwin High School. She completed a Bachelor of Education at what was Darwin Community College. She started teaching at Berry Springs Primary School in the 1980’s, then worked at Gray Primary School, Humpty Doo Primary School, Anula Primary School and became Principal at Jingili Primary School. Lawler has also worked as a Health Educator within the Education Department promoting health and wellbeing in schools. While teaching she completed a Masters in Education and a Masters in International Management, a Diploma in Project Management and an Associate Diploma in Public Service Management. Lawler has worked in executive roles in Education in Alice Springs and as Deputy Chief Executive School Education for the whole of the Territory, and was Education Adviser to Paul Henderson and Marion Scrymgour. Until recently Lawler worked in the Department of Sport and Recreation where she was responsible for leading the delivery of high-level sporting events such as the Mitchell Street Mile, Davis Cup Tennis, NRL and Alice Springs Masters Games. She has represented the NT in hockey, including 3 years as Captain. Eva is married to Tom Lawler, a long-term Territory firefighter and has two adult children, daughter Kirby and son Lindsay. |
| Dale was born and raised in Melbourne, attending local public schools, then securing a social work degree after attending Latrobe and Monash Universities. She moved to Alice Springs in 2004 after working in road trauma rehabilitation for many years, and lives in Braitling with her partner Gary and son Jimmy. Dale has over 25 years’ experience in the health, disability, and domestic violence sectors, in both the private and public sectors. She has been a member of the Alice Springs Health Governing Council and was Chairwoman and Board member of Central Australian Women’s Legal Service. She has represented the NT on several national bodies. Over the last 8 years, she has led the Alice Springs Women’s Shelter to become a nationally recognised and award-winning service, and she was recognised in the 2015 Telstra Business Women Awards, with Dale named an NT finalist. | 
Dale Wakefield |
| Assistant Ministers |
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* These biographies were sourced from the Northern Territory ALP website here, the ABC’s Antony Green’s NT election website here, Wikipedia, here, and personal knowledge.
** Technically it isn’t a Parliament.
Northern Territory: 3 Ministers Only in First Gunner Ministry
Michael Gunner, the new Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, announced his first Cabinet on Wednesday, following Labor’s victory in the NT election held on 27 August 2016.
Because counting continues and it’s not perfectly certain some potential Ministers will be elected, he’s done what Gough Whitlam did in 1972 and appointed a very small Ministry holding multiple portfolios: Gunner himself holds 41 portfolios, listed at the bottom of this article, in addition to Chief Minister, while the two others hold one portfolio each.
Here are the new Ministers, with some short biographies*. The final results in the election for a Legislative Assembly of 25 are almost certain to see the Country-Liberal Party government of Adam Giles reduced to 2 seats, Labor secure 18, and independents with 5. Of the 25, it is expected, once all seats are declared, twelve will be women; 6 will identify as being of aboriginal descent (the original article was in error, saying 7 indigenous Members would be elected – it will in fact be six, and the article has now been corrected – thanks to Ken Vowles for pointing out my error.)
This is the greatest proportion of women in any legislature** of any Australian jurisdiction, ever, and the greatest number and proportion of indigenous members in any legislature** of any Australian jurisdiction, ever.
Michael Gunner is also the first Northern Territory-born Chief Minister.
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Michael Gunner |
Michael Gunner is a fourth generation Territorian whose family have lived and worked here since the 1930’s. Born on 6 January 1976 in Alice Springs, he is the first Northern Territory-born Chief Minister. He was educated in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek, and Darwin and Northern Territory University. He has represented the Territory in Rugby Union and at various times has played cricket for PINTS, and soccer for the Verdi Club in Alice Springs. Michael has previously worked stocking shelves at Woolworths, as a union organiser, an electorate officer and a ministerial adviser. He was first elected in August 2008, and became Labor Leader in April 2015. Michael’s partner is Kristy O’Brien. |
| Natasha was born at the old Darwin hospital on 26 May 1978, grew up in the Northern suburbs and lives with her husband Paul Archbold and sons Oliver and Henry in Nightcliff. She went to school in Darwin, and after completing her teaching degree at University of Canberra, returned to Darwin as a teacher for five years before travelling and working overseas. Natasha became Executive Director of Royal Life Saving Society NT, and was active in the community including local swimming clubs, and Vice President of Nightcliff Family Childcare Centre. She also worked as an aquatic administration assistant for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and as a public servant. She was first elected in 2012. |
Natasha Fyles |
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Nicole Manison |
Nicole was born in 1979 in Tennant Creek, and grew up in her Wanguri electorate. She attended local schools including Holy Spirit School, Dripstone Middle School and Casuarina Senior College before attending Curtin University in Perth and securing a Bachelor of Mass Communication. Nicole has been the Member for Wanguri since February 2013 when she won the seat in a by-election. Prior to entering Parliament, she worked for PowerWater and government departments in a range of Communications and Human Resource, as an adviser to several Ministers in the previous Labor Government, and in the private sector in Perth. Nicole plays and coaches for Waratah Netball Club, and lives in her electorate with her husband Scott Mc Neill, and son Aiden. |
* These biographies were sourced from the Northern Territory ALP website here, the ABC’s Antony Green’s NT election website here, Wikipedia, here, and personal knowledge.
** Technically it isn’t a Parliament.
*** As well as Premier, until a new Cabinet is appointed in the next two weeks, Chief Min Michael Gunner also holds the portfolios of Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Northern and Central Australia , Minister for Economic Development and Major Projects, Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Minister for Correctional Services , Minister for Business, Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing, Minister for Asian Engagement and Trade, Minister for Employment and Training, Minister for Public Employment , Minister for Corporate and Information Services, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Senior Territorians, Minister for Lands and Planning , Minister for Mines and Energy, Minister for Children and Families, Minister for Health, Minister for Disability Services, Minister for Mental Health Services , Minister for Education, Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Essential Services, Minister for Veterans Support , Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries, Minister for Land Resource Management, Minister for the Environment, Minister for Arts and Museums, Minister for Sport and Recreation, Minister for Young Territorians, Minister for Local Government and Community Services, Minister for Housing, Minister for Parks and Wildlife, Minister for Men’s Policy, Minister for Women’s Policy, Minister for Statehood
Labor WON’T get a 20% Swing in NT
Northern Territory Labor Leader Michael Gunner
The Northern Territory’s only daily paper has got its facts very, very wrong, again – Labor WON’T get a 20% swing at the impending election.
This story www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/labor-on-track-for-landslide-win-in-nt-election/news-story/2f05cc0cfb5a5b000b21dca80f64b3dc says Labor is currently on track to receive a 20% swing on 27 August, Election Day. That’s hopelessly wrong, and significantly overstates the swing to Labor.
Recent Electoral Act changes are the biggest reason the reported poll results are wrong. The biggest change is from compulsory preferential voting, to optional. The Country-Liberal Party (CLP) and some independents will run a “just vote one” campaign, and to the extent this campaign is successful it will mean Labor has to rely far more on its primary vote for the anti-Government swing.
In this poll, Labor’s primary vote is LESS than at the last election.
As is sometimes the case in the Northern Territory, there may be stooge candidates run, to reduce the prospects of a primary protest (anti-CLP) vote going to Labor.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Adam Giles
Second, other Electoral Act amendments ban campaigning within 100 metres of a polling place. This change has the impact of reducing the capacity of voters to vote for the Party/candidate of their true choice, because it increases the prospects of their not knowing who candidates are – will they mark their ballot paper at all, or donkey vote instead? There are other changes, too, which can be found here http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/northern_territory_elections/ and here www.ntec.nt.gov.au/MediaAndPublications/Documents/Election%20Newsletter%20No.%2003-%2009%20March%202016.pdf. No-one can know how this will impact voting overall.
Third, it is a 887 sample, but it is a mostly (entirely?) urban/rural residential sample, done by phone. The margin of error is said to be plus or minus 3%. The results are weighted demographically, but it’s almost impossible to poll many aboriginal town camps or remote indigenous communities, so they must be under-represented, or not included. It really says nothing about the vote in such locations, and in the NT town camps and remote communities are important determinants of results in individual seats.
Fourth, the report draws conclusions about different parts of the Northern Territory, but the sample size for those geographic and demographic segments is much smaller than 887, so the margin of error will be significantly larger.
Fifth, this reporting of the poll impacts voter intention, and will have multiple outcomes: reducing the enthusiasm for a protest vote amongst those who are nervous about a Labor Government, reducing the enthusiasm for those who want a change in Government to bother voting, increasing the commitment of pro-CLP voters to make the effort, and generating complacency amongst Labor candidates and campaigners. There’s also alleged to be a bandwagon effect, of people backing a perceived winner, but I’ve seen no research suggesting it is significant in state- or national-level elections. Some voters do change their vote according to expectations.
Journalists often sensationalise and misrepresent, or simply misunderstand, polling, but this piece by the NT News is worse than most.
Ethical Consulting Services 