NT’s 120 Most Powerful people for 2022
The stunning Gouldian finch makes its debut on the Most Powerful list today after being credited for pausing a Defence housing project at Lee Point. Follow the countdown from 10-4.
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The end is nigh for the NT’s 120 Most Powerful list for 2022 and there’s some interesting inclusions in today’s big reveal.
The Gouldian finch makes its debut after putting a stop - even if only temporarily - to a contentious Defence housing project at Lee Point.
In September, federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek paused the development, which had 130ha of land slated to be cleared to make way for about 780 new houses for Defence personnel, after being alerted to the birds’ presence by a group of advocates desperate to save the stunningly-multicoloured species’ habitat.
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles and Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro also feature in today’s list, albeit a few spots apart.
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Follow the countdown from 10-4.
10. Gouldian Finch
After colonies of the endangered Gouldian finch unexpectedly arrived at Lee Point, a massive effort has been undertaken to preserve the Darwin beach these rare birds call home. Thousands of visitors from all over Australia and the world reportedly flocked to Darwin to catch a glimpse of the breathtaking bird, whose Top End home is under threat by a government housing project.
In September, federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek paused the Defence housing development, which had 130ha of land slated to be cleared to make way for about 780 new houses for Defence personnel, after being alerted to the birds’ presence by a group of advocates desperate to save the stunningly-multicoloured species’ habitat.
Activist groups have popped up since the finches were spotted last year and continue to petition the federal government to bin the development and save the species and Lee Point.
9. Samara Fernandez-Brown
Fernandez-Brown is a proud Warlpiri woman and fierce advocate for her community in Yuendumu.
Fernandez-Brown gave powerful evidence at an inquest in Alice Springs in 2022 into the death of her cousin, Kumanjayi Walker, and was a daily presence inside and outside of court.
In a year when the Warlpiri community has again been thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, Fernandez-Brown has remained a staunch defender of the dignity and humanity of her Central Australian mob amid commentary from outsiders as her family continues to grieve their tragic loss.
8. Lawson Broad
Jumping a massive 79 spots on the Most Powerful list to crack the top 10, Broad has used 2022 to become a key figure on the Territory political scene.
Chief executive of Somerville Community Services since 2017, Broad was elected CLP party president in September.
Before his appointment to the role, Broad had served as chief of staff for current Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro, who sits just one place above him on this list, as well as working as an adviser to Terry Mills before the CLP’s 2012 election win.
Broad’s leap up the list shows the kind of power the president of a political party can wield, particularly one with his pedigree.
With a party leader as willing to attack the government as Finocchiaro, the approach the CLP takes over the next 18 months with Broad at the helm will go along way to deciding the outcome of 2024’s election.
7. Lia Finocchiaro
Since taking the reins as Opposition Leader in 2020, Finocchiaro has worked to cement herself as a formidable alternative to Chief Minister Natasha Fyles, scrutinising the Labor government at every opportunity.
Crime has been the CLP leader’s go-to pressure point in the past 12 months, and with rates up across the Territory and Alice Springs in the grips of its worst crime wave in years, 2023 may prove the time for Finocchiaro to make serious inroads into disrupting Labor’s plans of developing a stronghold on the Territory.
Having proven herself to be a capable attack dog and pouncing on any government indiscretion, no matter how minor, Finocchiaro will take the fight to Fyles right up to the 2024 election.
But with the CLP’s “tough on crime” mantra doing little to rattle the Chief Minister, Finocchiaro may need to look elsewhere for the government’s sore point.
And with talks of a leadership spill ever-present between party insiders, the Opposition Leader will need to add another string to her bow if she is to make a tilt at the Territory’s top job.
6. Nicole Manison
Standing in as the acting Chief Minister in Natasha Fyles’ absence in recent weeks, Manison has proven herself as a capable second-in-command to the Territory’s leader.
Before Michael Gunner’s resignation as chief minister came in 2022, Manison’s name had often been in the mix as next in line for the top job, with many believing the Wanguri MLA was being groomed for the role.
Ultimately, she would continue to play second fiddle to the chief minister but ever-present in the public eye, Manison seems content with her standing in the leadership.
Nevertheless, should rumours of a spill circulate, one would assume her name would be right back in the mix.
And with major portfolios like Mining and Industry and Tourism and Hospitality, Manison’s role in the government’s plans for a $40b economy by 2030 cannot be underestimated.
5. Dr Kirsty Howey
The Northern Territory’s natural landscape is considered a national treasure and intrinsic to Territorians’ way of life.
In the wake of threats to land and water, the Environment Centre chief executive has been at the centre of protests and law suits that regularly cause Territory Labor and mining companies headaches.
Her team’s work has impacted progress on a number of the government’s major projects, including the Middle Arm development, McArthur River Mine expansion and Beetaloo Basin. She is also a passionate advocate for the Territory’s smallest residents, the Gouldian finch and has worked to halt Defence housing development in Lee Point.
As the 2024 Territory elections loom, Howey is one to watch.
4. Natasha Fyles
From tackling the NT’s Covid response as Health Minister to taking over as Chief Minister, 2022 was a massive year for Fyles.
Fyles has always been one of the faces of Territory Labor taking on press conferences and unafraid to answer the tough questions, even if she doesn’t always give a straight answer.
There were still question marks on who would take over when Michael Gunner announced he was stepping down in May.
However, when the Labor caucus unanimously voted in her favour it seemed a natural fit.
Even before climbing to the top spot she was often the face of the Territory government fronting press conferences in her role as Health Minister as Covid gripped the NT.
Health is one of the portfolios she kept under her name after ascending to the top seat alongside defence, alcohol policy and major projects, all important areas for the foreseeable future.
But as Chief it is how she deals with the complex and enduring issue of crime and anti-social behaviour, particularly in Alice Springs, that could define her tenure.
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