Port Darwin MLA Paul Kirby named as Gunner Government’s new minister

MEMBER for Port Darwin Paul Kirby has been selected as the new cabinet minister to replace Ken Vowles in the Gunner Government following a Labor caucus meeting today

Chief Minister Michael Gunner announces Paul Kirby as his new minister today

MEMBER for Port Darwin Paul Kirby will replace sacked Labor minister Ken Vowles as the Gunner Government’s ninth Cabinet minister.

Paul Kirby will be the ninth minister, replacing Ken Vowles #ntpol @TheNTNews pic.twitter.com/POso9dWz4S

— Hayley Sorensen (@HayleySorensen) January 29, 2019

Today’s caucus meeting was the first time the 15-member group has met since it voted to eject the rebel trio of Mr Vowles, Jeff Collins and Scott McConnell from caucus last month.

Member for Sanderson Kate Worden will take up Mr Kirby’s position as Labor whip.

It won’t be revealed until Thursday what portfolios Mr Kirby will hold. The portfolios left vacant by Mr Vowles’ sacking are Aboriginal affairs, primary industries and resources, and the Arafura Games.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner with new minister Paul Kirby today

It’s unlikely Mr Kirby will take up the resources portfolio given his history as an organiser for the ETU. The union is rabidly opposed to fracking and would put Mr Kirby in an awkward position given Labor’s support for the onshore gas industry.

Mr Kirby said the decision to lift Labor’s former moratorium on fracking followed some “robust debates”.

“The fracking was a really interesting debate to go through,” he said.

But he said he was now “absolutely” in support of his Government’s pro-fracking stance.

“Once we make those decisions as a caucus we bind in behind them and get on with doing the job as best we can for Territorians to make sure we can get jobs and get safe jobs for people,” he said.

Mr Kirby acknowledged he would likely cop some flak from his former union comrades.

“It’s a very divisive issue, people all through the Territory and Australia have different opinions on (fracking),” he said.

He didn’t nominate any portfolios he would like to hold, but said he was “coachable” in any position.

Mr Kirby’s appointment comes after Mr Vowles, who was sacked late last month for publicly refusing to back Mr Gunner’s leadership, warned the new minister would need to be submissive and obedient to last in Cabinet.

Mr Kirby said he wasn’t concerned by his predecessor’s warning.

“We’ve got a very open and robust relationship within caucus and I’m sure that will carry on in Cabinet as well,” he said.