Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s chief of staff gone in review

An internal review in Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s office has claimed his two most senior advisers including his chief of staff.

Chief MInister Michael Gunner’s deputy chief of staff Kieran Phillips and chief of staff Alf Leonardi have lost their jobs.

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner has sacked his chief-of-staff Alf Leonardi following a scathing internal review of his office.

Mr Leonardi and deputy chief-of-staff Kieran Phillips will both leave the Chief Minister’s fifth floor office in a major pre-election shake-up.

Co-deputy chief of staff Helen Nezeritis has also been moved to a less senior role.

Mr Gunner recently hired Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ chief-of-staff Lissie Ratcliff to conduct a review of his office.

NT POLITICAL TURMOIL

Chief Minister Michael Gunner won’t rule out punishing colleagues

NT Govt and chief minister’s hold on leadership in deep crisis

Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s sacking broke Labor rules: MLAs say

McConnell on the outer as parliament resumes

It’s understood she filed a report that was scathing of some parts of the Chief Minster’s internal operations.

It’s expected Mr Leonardi will be replaced by Emily Beresford-Cane, who has been working as Attorney-General Natasha Fyles’ chief-of-staff.

Mr Phillips is expected to be redeployed to another minister’s office, while it’s expected Mr Leonardi will leave the fifth floor.

The purge ends a tumultuous three years for Mr Leonardi as Mr Gunner’s top adviser.

He’s been a divisive figure within the Government with his critics accusing him of being all-controlling and preventing access to the Chief Minister.

NT NEWS’ MOST POWERFUL

LEONARDI trumps Chief Minister on power list

In December 2017, Former Resources Minister Ken Vowles accused Mr Leonardi of orchestrating his sacking, as well as the removal of fellow MLAs Scott McConnell and Jeff Collins from the Labor caucus.

NT News subscription offer: $5 a month for the first three months

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

“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.”

Mr Gunner released a brief and dispassionate statement on his decision to dispatch his closest ally.

“The Territory Labor Government is focused on Territorians,” he said.

“With that in mind I have made the decision to make some changes within my office.

“My chief of staff Alf Leonardi and I have had a discussion. He will take a leave of absence to focus on his health.”

He confirmed Ms Beresford-Cane’s appointment to the top role, and emphasised her “extensive experience in the private sector”.

One of the persistent criticisms of Mr Gunner’s chief ministership has been his decision to surround himself with lifelong members of the Labor machine.

A trained lawyer, Ms Beresford-Cane previously ran a consultancy firm for the oil and gas industry.

The shake-up of Mr Gunner’s office comes just over a year from the next Northern Territory election.

Mr Gunner’s close allies have been seeking advice on how to make him more palatable to the electorate in the lead-up to that poll, amid rising discontent among voters.

Ms Ratcliff played a key role in the makeover of Mr Andrews before his election win in Victoria in 2014, where he changed everything from his ill-fitting suits to his preferred name, going by Dan instead of Daniel.