Former Chief Minister Michael Gunner lands KPMG job in Western Australia

A former NT chief minister is on the move with a new interstate position.

Former chief minister Michael Gunner is quitting the Northern Territory.

Only the second politician to lead the Territory Labor Party into government from opposition, Mr Gunner is understood to be moving to Perth to take up a partnership with KPMG.

After his resignation as NT chief minister in May 2022, Mr Gunner landed a job with Fortescue Future Industries leading its Northern Australian team based in Darwin.

He was in the job for almost 18 months before the role ended in March when Fortescue boss Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest changed the company’s direction.

Mr Gunner’s LinkedIn profile shows he has had a part time position with CareFlight for the past 11 months as well as roles as a deputy chair and board member with the rescue organisation.

Former Chief Minister Michael Gunner as the Fyles Cabinet was sworn in, back in 2022. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Born in Alice Springs, Mr Gunner was the first Territory born-and-raised chief minister when he was elected in 2016 to the jurisdiction’s top political job.

Before him, Territory born Delia Lawrie had been acting chief minister when Paul Henderson was on leave.

The NT News has attempted to contact Mr Gunner for comment.

Mr Gunner was elected to the NT parliament in 2008 as Fannie Bay MLA, controversially resigning moments after delivering the 2022 budget.

Mr Gunner joins his CLP predecessor Adam Giles in quitting the Territory after losing the top job.

It was common for the Territory’s earlier chief minister’s to move interstate once their term in government had ended, given the shortage of commensurate roles in the Territory.

Former Chief Minister Clare Martin just before her 2001 election as chief minister. (Pic: Michael Marschall)

But in recent years a number have remained in the Territory with Shane Stone, Denis Burke, Clare Martin, Paul Henderson, Natasha Fyles and Eva Lawler all staying put once their political careers had ended.

The growth of Charles Darwin University over the past two-decasdes has opened up interesting post-political roles for former pollies, with both Ms Martin and Mr Henderson taking senior appointments.

News of Mr Gunner’s new role emerged just weeks after community services organisation Somerville announced it had appointed Ms Fyles as its new chief executive, commencing February.

Mr Gunner’s wife, Kristy O’Brien, is a roving reporter working remotely with ABC TV’s Landline.

Originally published as Former Chief Minister Michael Gunner lands KPMG job in Western Australia