Alf Leonardi: From ‘Most Powerful’ to out of a job

LESS than two years ago the NT News, in its widely-read ‘Most Powerful List’, named Alf Leonardi as the most powerful person in the Territory. Today he finds himself out of a job

Chief Minister Michael Gunner, right, has sacked his chief-of-staff Alf Leonardi following a reportedly scathing internal review

LESS than two years ago the NT News, in its widely-read Most Powerful List, named NT Labor political adviser Alf Leonardi as the most powerful person in the Territory, two places ahead of his boss, Chief Minister Michael Gunner.

On Monday it was reported Mr Gunner had sacked Mr Leonardi in a major pre-election shake-up.

If the NT News was to publish The List today Mr Leonardi would no longer be among its closely pored-over 120 names, a stunning fall from grace.

ALF LEONARDI No. 1: The NT News’ complete 120 Most Powerful List for 2017

When he was listed at No. 1 in December 2017 the NT News described Mr Leonardi as “a staff member who is more powerful than the elected leader”.

It was a controversial statement at the time but, exactly a year later, one of the Gunner Government’s then more popular ministers echoed our sentiments.

In December 2018, Resources and Aboriginal Affairs minister Ken Vowles was sacked by the Chief Minister after the NT News published a leaked email in which Mr Vowles likened the government to a business that was “trading insolvent”.

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Mr Vowles responded by accusing Mr Leonardi of orchestrating his sacking from Cabinet and caucus.

“Michael Gunner doesn’t fart without Alf Leonardi saying so,” he famously said at the time.

“Make no mistake, the bloke running this place is Alf Leonardi. Alf Leonardi would have told Michael Gunner to sack me and that’s what would have happened.

“The faceless men and women in any political party are the true puppet-masters here.”

Ironically, just two days before Mr Vowles’ sacking the NT News had made him the third most powerful person in the Territory in its 2018 Most Powerful List, five places ahead of the Chief Minister.

Explaining its decision, the NT News said at the time: “The thorn in Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s side, Ken Vowles is the highest ranked member of Cabinet on our list and comes in five places ahead of his boss.

“Mr Vowles is not afraid to speak his mind in Cabinet and caucus, or indeed, to speak out against the echo chamber of Mr Gunner’s advisers and that’s what makes him so influential.”

KEN VOWLES No. 3: The NT News’ complete 120 Most Powerful List for 2018

It seems our Most Powerful List can be a dangerous roll call for your name to appear on.

But it is nothing if not prophetic.

When Mr Leonardi was listed at No. 1 in 2017, the NT News explained why it named him there.

“(Mr Leonardi) wouldn’t be doing his job if he wasn’t a gatekeeper but, in this instance, Alf is more.

“He is a policy setter.

“From the outset, he is guiding Cabinet by what is and isn’t put in front of them.

“Ministers only believe what is told to them by those in the real world if Alf gives the okay. “Otherwise, it is ignored no matter how serious or real the problems are.

“Making Alf the most powerful was not a light-hearted decision.

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“The whole of the Territory should be uncomfortable our most powerful person is not the Chief Minister or a private sector leader but a fifth floor staffer.

“It says an enormous amount about the road ahead.”