Labor turmoil: Who’s out and who’s in on the fifth floor?

IT’S been another day of turmoil for the Gunner Government. Here we explain who’s out and who’s in after today and put a face to the faceless men and women on the fifth floor

Chief Minister Michael Gunner, left, and his then Chief of Staff, Alf Leonardi, speaking with Prince Charles during his royal visit to Darwin in April 2018. Picture: Justin Kennedy

OUT:

Alf Leonardi, chief of staff — long time Labor servant who has worked under Labor chief ministers Paul Henderson, Clare Martin and Michael Gunner. A Labor “true believer”, Mr Leonardi has served as Michael Gunner’s chief of staff since he rolled Delia Lawrie as opposition leader in 2015. Rumblings from caucus members around Mr Leonardi’s influence over Mr Gunner and dictatorial style have been a persistent hallmark of his time as boss of the chief’s office.

A teetotaller, Mr Leonardi fought hard against booze giant Dan Murphy’s plans to open a store in Darwin. He also instigated a deeply unpopular Parliament House durry ban, banishing fifth floor smokers outside the building’s grounds to light up.

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Kieran Phillips , deputy chief of staff — Has spent most of his professional life working within the Labor and union machine for ministers including Karl Hampton and Chris Burns. Mr Phillips has a well-earned reputation for volatility among fifth-floor staffers. The NT News understands he will be shifted to Territory Families Minister Dale Wakefield’s office and will likely take over as her chief of staff when the position opens up.

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Helen Nezeritis, deputy chief of staff — The least visible of the sacked trio, Ms Nezeritis is the wife of NT Labor Secretary Anthony Brereton. It’s understood she will stay on in Mr Gunner’s office in a less prominent role.

IN:

Emily Beresford-Cane , chief of staff — Most recently chief of staff to Health Minister and Attorney-General Natasha Fyles, Michael Gunner’s new chief of staff has only recently returned to work from a year’s maternity leave. A lawyer by trade, Ms Beresford-Cane has a reputation as a highly organised and level headed problem-solver. Before Labor won government in 2016, Ms Beresford-Cane ran her own consultancy service providing strategic advice on mining and infrastructure projects.