Lifting the lid on our Most Powerful Territorian, Alf Leonardi, Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s chief-of-staff

ACTING Chief Minister Nicole Manison has defended the man the NT News yesterday named as The Territory’s Most Powerful Person, her own Chief Minister’s chief-of-staff, Alf Leonardi

Alf Leonardi was named the NT’s most powerful person

THE Territory’s most powerful person, Alf Leonardi, is a longtime public servant of the Northern Territory.

Mr Leonardi, 53, has been a regular in politics for more than two decades.

He did his apprenticeship as the electorate officer with Clare Martin before Labor seized power in 2001 and she became the Territory’s first female Chief Minister.

Mr Leonardi served as her chief-of-staff but was later replaced by the more politically aggressive Adele Young.

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At one point he served as chairman of Neighbourhood Watch and, if this was to allow him a run at a seat in the NT Legislative Assembly, it did not help.

As Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s chief-of-staff, he commands an executive contract in excess of $300,000 a year.

Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison defended the role Mr Leonardi plays in the Gunner Government but also went to great pains to point out others contribute as well.

“Alf’s a very hard-working member of our team,” she said.

“But we have got a fantastic team in government.

“We’ve got a great range of members of our Cabinet, of our caucus and I’m really proud of the work we do together as a team each and every day to deliver for Territorians.”

Within parts of the business community, the Gunner Government is affectionately known as the “Leonardi Government”.

“We can’t get anything done with government without Alf giving it the go-ahead,” one business leader said. When the Government changed its tune on the 400sq m cap for Dan Murphy’s, many commented that it was the “first backflip of the Leonardi Government”.

In August, the NT News reported Labor ministers and backbenchers were set to revolt over Mr Leonardi.

Colleagues questioned Mr Gunner’s ability to lead, claiming he leaves all decisions to Mr Leonardi.

“He’s the real Chief Minister,” a minister said.

Mr Gunner said he had not received any complaints about his chief-of-staff.

“I am the Chief Minister, I’ll wear all the responsibility for our decisions as a government,” he said.

“My chief-of-staff is a top bloke who has worked tirelessly for me, and for the Government, doing a very tough job.”

To see the full list go to ntnews.com.au or see Saturday’s NT News for a 12-page liftout of the NT’s 120 Most Powerful