Favourite candidate emerges in poll for the NT’s next Chief Minister

NT News readers have voted in droves to select who they believe should be the NT’s next chief minister. One frontrunner has emerged ahead of the pack. HAVE YOUR SAY.

NT News readers have backed Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison to step up to lead the Territory, with 29 per cent of your votes going the way of the Member for Wanguri.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles and Deputy Speaker Joel Bowden have placed as close second and third favourites, obtaining 22 and 18 per cent of the respective votes, cast by more than 840 readers.

“Given the candidates, Natasha may as well be paid for the job as actual chief minister as she has been doing the job for the last several years,” one NT News reader commented.

Another reader said: “I’d like to see Kate Worden step up. She may not have the experience yet as most leaders don’t but she has integrity and determination and I think she would do well with support from her fellow ministers”.

Another thanked Mr Gunner for his leadership and said: “I would like to see one of his hard working captains be the next chief minister … Nicole or Natasha”.

Several also questioned the identity of one of the frontrunners, asking: “Who is Joel?”

However, many Territorians were more cynical, expressing their disappointment with the politicians vying to be the Territory’s next leader.

Many commented “none” when faced with the Members in the running, while others called for a “vote of no confidence”.

“The person who has enough common sense to abolish the proposed solar tariff reduction rate which is due to start in July,” was the cry from one quick-witted reader.

Another simply wrote: “God help us”.

Many readers ranked alternative figures such as Mickey Mouse, a clown from the visiting Moscow Circus, and their own pets as preferential to the candidates.

Have your say in the poll below.

The contenders for the next chief minister

MICHAEL Gunner has resigned as Chief Minister of the Northern Territory.

The NT Labor Caucus will meet on Friday to vote for the next leader of the party.

If there is not a unanimous vote, it could take up to a month for the next Chief Minister to be named.

Who do you think should be the next chief minister? Check out our odds and have your say in our poll.

ODDS

Nicole Manison – 2/1

She’s Gunner’s wing woman and has always held important portfolios such as treasurer, police and industry.

Joel Bowden – 3/1

Former Richmond football player who’s been garnering votes behind the scenes.

Natasha Fyles – 8/1

She led the Territory’s Covid-19 response as Health Minister.

Eva Lawler – 12/1

The long-term Infrastructure Minister is a quiet achiever.

Selena Uibo – 20/1

The NT News’ Most Powerful Territorian for 2021 and the current Attorney-General.

Chansey Paech – 20/1

He’s the only MLA who’s been seen on the hustings with the federal Labor election candidates.

The rest of the runners – 100/1

Here’s a poll of the full list of potential runners for Chief Minister.

Vote to have your say

BEST ODDS

NICOLE MANISON

THE Member for Wanguri in Darwin’s northern suburbs, Nicole Manison has been looking more and more like a Chief Minister in waiting in recent years. But “Mano” does have some baggage. She has overseen some horrendous attrition figures within the NT Police Force during her time as Police Minister.

Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison. Picture: Glenn Campbell

There’s also questions as to whether the Right Faction (which Gunner and Manison are a part of) has the numbers.

Manison has been a competent deputy chief minister and has shown she’s ready for the top job.

NATASHA FYLES

EVERYONE knows the Member for Nightcliff – she’s been front and centre as the Health Minister throughout the entire Covid pandemic. It’s little secret Fyles is hungry for the leadership but the question is whether now is the right time to strike. Hailing from the Left Faction, “Fylesy” would need to woo some crucial support over from those unaligned within caucus.

Fyles knows how build to public support and handle a media scrum, she’s a natural leader.

JOEL BOWDEN

DON’T discount Joel Bowden. He’s not on TV everyday, nor is he even a minister. But the former AFL star is well-liked and has been identified in the past as leadership material.

If you believe the rumour mill, Bowden has had the support for a while now and has just been waiting for the best time to pounce.

THE OUTSIDERS

SELENA UIBO

SELENA UIBO has been prolific in recent months introducing some of the most important impactful pieces of legislation of the Gunner government. Not least of all is the body of laws around the Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission’s findings.

Uibo doesn’t sit with either faction, she’s the perfect middle grounder.

CHANSEY PAECH

VERY much an outside chance but Paech’s profile has been building in recent years despite not being based in a Darwin electorate. But that’s a bit of a gift, shielding him from some of the government’s less popular decisions. Notably, he is one of only a few ministers to have appeared with federal Labor candidates on the campaign trail so far this election.

Paech has demonstrated he’s capable of handling a big job and has the charisma to go with it.

Chansey Paech. Picture: Che Chorley