New executive role for Michael Gunner’s ex-chief of staff Alf Leonardi

THE Chief Minister’s controversial former chief of staff Alf Leonardi has landed an executive job with the Education Department but without it being advertised.

The Chief Minister’s former chief-of-staff Alf Leonardi has a new role in the Education Department. Picture: Justin Kennedy

THE Chief Minister’s controversial former chief of staff has landed an executive job with the Education Department.

Alf Leonardi was punted from his fifth-floor job in August amid a pre-election shake-up of Michael Gunner’s senior aides.

At the time, Mr Gunner said Mr Leonardi would take a “leave of absence to focus on his health”.

But four months after he left on sick leave, Mr Leonardi was appointed to the position of strategic partnerships senior director in the NT Education Department.

While the role is federally funded, recruitment is handled by the NT Government.

The NT News can reveal the position, newly created in September, was not publicly advertised and Mr Leonardi was not given the job until December.

The Education Department received approval from the Commissioner for Public Employment not to advertise as it was satisfied Mr Leonardi fulfilled the requirements of the executive role.

Mr Leonardi was Mr Gunner’s chief of staff at the time Labor announced it would slash the number of public servants employed on executive contracts by 10 per cent in a bid to rein in spending.

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A spokesman for Mr Gunner told the NT News the Chief Minister was not involved in Mr Leonardi’s appointment and was only made aware of it after the fact.

Opposition leader Gary Higgins was critical of Mr Leonardi’s hiring.

“Three and a half long years ago they came into government promising to be open, honest, and transparent,” he said.

“What we’ve seen is the complete opposite, and now they can add hypocrisy to the list. They’ve hired one of their own in an executive public service position – without interview, without advertising.

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“The Chief Minister should be focusing on fixing the crime plaguing our communities, and the economy which is the worst performing in the nation.

“Instead, according to reports, he’s making sure his ex-staff are well looked after in executive positions.”

He said he was also disappointed by the NT Government’s efforts to reel in public service numbers.