Some things have changed, but Fyles’ market routine has not

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles Sunday Nightcliff market routine continues as usual.

NATASHA Fyles’ world has turned upside down but one ritual for the newly-minted Chief Minister won’t change: her breakfast visit to the Nightcliff markets.

On Sunday morning, the Territory’s new leader enjoyed her visit to the popular markets, stopped every few minutes by locals to say congratulations.

Despite the major change in role and responsibilities, Ms Fyles said her beloved electorate of Nightcliff would not be thrown to the backburner and her visits to the markets would remain a Sunday morning ritual.

“I love the markets, it’s incredibly important to me,” Ms Fyles said.

Newly appointed Chief Minister Natasha Fyles with little Nightcliff local Heidi, spinning Sunday yarns with market goers as per usual. Picture: Floss Adams.

“Before I was elected as a member for Nightcliff we’d regularly come to the markets and it’s part of our family routine.”

For aspiring leaders, the Sunday breakfast of a Chief Minister is popias with the sauce on the side and a lime juice.

Albo comes to town

UPDATED SATURDAY, MAY 14 11AM: ANTHONY Albanese has used his time in Darwin to meet with the Northern Territory’s new Chief Minister Natasha Fyles, who was sworn in just yesterday after a surprisingly bloodless leadership transition.

The pair, over coffee at Roma Bar in the CBD, discussed Territory specific policy, including funding for Kakadu National Park.

Mr Albanese is set to make a $970m policy announcement to strengthen Medicare.

Federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese had a coffee with new NT Chief Minister Natasha Fyles. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

UPDATED FRIDAY, MAY 13 6PM: OPPOSITION Leader Anthony Albanese landed in Darwin on Friday evening, hours after Natasha Fyles was appointed the new Territory Labor Chief Minister.

Soon after the announcement, Mr Albanese said he knew “Natasha well” and she would be a good Chief Minister.

Mr Albanese is expected to hold a press conference on Saturday morning to make a nationally significant announcement.

EARLIER: LABOR’S backroom factions could plunge the Territory into four weeks of leadership instability as the women Michael Gunner referred to as “legends” – Nicole Manison and Natasha Fyles – battle it out to become the next Chief Minister of the Northern Territory.

It will come as unwelcome news to federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese, who will fly into the Territory on Friday to campaign in Solomon and Lingiari.

It’s understood The Left is backing Ms Fyles while Ms Manison is enjoying support of both The Right and unaligned caucus members. Sources say Ms Manison has eight votes within Parliamentary Labor while Ms Fyles has six.

The party will meet on Friday to try to decide on a new leader but if the vote isn’t unanimous, party rules stipulate the leadership contest be taken to a vote of the rank and file.

If either Ms Manison or Ms Fyles runs unopposed, no ballot is required.

Late on Thursday, sources said both of Labor’s unaligned MLAs Dheran Young and Selena Uibo had declared themselves for Ms Manison.

Meanwhile, The Left was rallying around Ms Fyles. A rumoured contest by Joel Bowden faded on Thursday.

Late on Thursday night, Labor politicians including Ms Manison were spotted in the Legislative Assembly glued to their phones.

The Left, which has been growing in influence within the party, does not hold the majority of MLAs but is hopeful a vote of rank and file members will deliver Ms Fyles the leadership.

Sources told the NT News The Left had approached Mark Turner to return to the caucus but this claim was rejected by Mr Turner.

Amid the leadership instability, Mr Albanese is expected to fly into Darwin on Friday afternoon.

Unaligned within the party’s factional system, Labor MLA Selena Uibo has reportedly backed Nicole Manison. Picture: Floss Adams.

He is expected to campaign in areas covered by both Solomon and Lingiari.

Amid growing uncertainty, the entire of Territory Labor’s executive sent government whip Mark Monaghan a letter instructing the parliamentary party that they must unanimously agree on a new leader by 2pm Friday or a ballot of the rank and file will be triggered.

“If the (unanimous vote) does not occur, the Administrative Committee will meet to determine the framework to conduct a ballot within guidelines outlined in the branch constitution,” the letter said.

On Thursday, banished Mr Turner declared his intention to return to the caucus.

Mr Turner told Channel 9 he would be able to do more for his constituents if he were to re-enter.

Mr Gunner sparked a race for the leadership after he dramatically resigned on Tuesday, during his budget speech.