Chief Minister Gunner answers calls to ‘get off his arse’, picks up business portfolio in reshuffle

MICHAEL Gunner will take back the business portfolio from Treasurer Nicole Manison in this morning’s Cabinet reshuffle and anti-fracker Paul Kirby has been given the resources portfolio

Chief Minister Michael Gunner with his newest Cabinet minister, Member for Port Darwin, Paul Kirby. Mr Kirby will take on the primary industries and resources portfolios. Picture: Justin Kennedy

MICHAEL Gunner will take back the business portfolio from Treasurer Nicole Manison in this morning’s Cabinet reshuffle.

The Chief Minister will also take on the newly created “defence jobs” portfolio.

Newly anointed minister and former ETU organiser Paul Kirby will take on primary industries and resources while Selena Uibo will add Aboriginal affairs to her existing role as education minister.

The move to hand Mr Kirby responsibility for overseeing the Territory’s mining industry will be controversial given his voracious opposition to the practice in the past.

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Other changes to the ministerial line up include Territory Families Minister Dale Wakefield taking on the new “energy policy” portfolio and Natasha Fyles adding Arafura Games to her already loaded roster of responsibilities including health and Attorney-General.

Ms Manison will pick up multicultural affairs and Eva Lawler adds climate change to her portfolios.

In a statement, Mr Gunner said the new portfolios would come at no extra cost.

Mr Gunner’s move to pick up the business portfolio comes in response from demands from the business community for him to do so.

NT Chamber of Commerce chief executive Greg Bicknell this week told the NT News Mr Gunner needed to do more heavy lifting.

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“This is a very important portfolio and he needs to take it back — it’s something that just has to be done,” Mr Bicknell said.

“He’s been calling on the Department CEOs to be more accountable, well now it’s his turn to be more accountable himself.

“Businesses are in the middle of a pretty tough time and we need strong, central leadership to get us out of this economic mess because it has been dispersed recently.”

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Dumped backbencher Scott McConnell had sensationally called for Mr Gunner to “get off his arse” and take on more responsibility.

Today’s reshuffle was forced by Mr Gunner’s sacking of former primary industries minister Ken Vowles from the caucus for dissent. Also booted were Mr McConnell and fellow backbencher Jeff Collins.

The new ministers will be sworn in at Government House this morning.