What cabinet reshuffle meant for NT public service

A shake-up at the NT’s political heart has been followed by change in the senior public service. See who else is out and back in.

The Labor government’s party-room clean-out has been played out in the public service with a significant change at the top.

Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet chief executive Dr Frank Daly has been replaced after just more than a year in the job.

He will be replaced by experienced departmental chief executive Ken Davies, who has been appointed just months after retiring from the Northern Territory public service.

He was most recently Territory Families, Housing and Communities chief executive.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles emailed the Territory’s 22,500 public servants after yesterday’s cabinet reshuffle which saw Joel Bowden and Brent Potter replace Lauren Moss and Paul Kirby on the Labor government’s front bench.

“Dr Frank Daly will not be continuing in the role of chief executive of the Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet,” Ms Fyles said.

“I thank Dr Daly for his service over the last few years, including his time as the CEO of the Department of Health during the Covid pandemic. We wish him all the best.”

Dr Daly moved to Darwin from Western Australia in 2021.

“Mr Ken Davies will take on the role of CEO of the Department of Chief Minister from today (Tuesday).

“Many of you will know Ken. He has a wealth of experience in the NT public sector and I thank him for his leadership, both now and into the future.”

Mr Davies had previously also headed the Department of Education.

Originally published as What cabinet reshuffle meant for NT public service