Brian Manning to contest Port Darwin for Labor at NT election following Paul Kirby’s retirement

A longstanding educator and son of a prominent unionist will run as Territory Labor’s candidate for Port Darwin in the NT general election.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler with Territory Labor Candidate for Port Darwin Brian Manning. Picture: Mitch Drescher

A long-time Darwin educator and son of one of the Territory’s most prominent unionists will run for Labor in the battleground seat of Port Darwin.

Assistant Principal of Darwin Middle School Brian Manning was preselected by the party to contest the central-Darwin electorate currently held by retiring former Cabinet minister Paul Kirby.

Mr Manning attended school in Darwin and has worked locally as a teacher for nearly 25 years, being named the Teaching in the Territory “Darwin School Leader of the Year” award in 2018.

He has undertaken teaching and leadership roles across institutions including Darwin High School, the NT Music School, Garma Festival and the Malak Re-engagement Centre.

Mr Manning has five children with his wife, a local GP.

His late father, Brian Thomas Manning, was a waterfront worker and unionist, becoming secretary of the Northern Territory branch of the Waterside Workers’ Federation of Australia and a co-founding the Northern Territory Trades and Labor Council.

Brian Manning (centre) with his band ahead of the 2014 Darwin Jazz Festival.

Mr Manning said he felt “honoured to be given the opportunity to put my hand up and run to represent the hardworking people of Port Darwin”.

“I want to give back to the community that has helped shape me and I’ll work tirelessly to deliver for the Port Darwin community,” he said.

“I will build a stronger and safer Port Darwin and make sure we all play our part in getting the Territory working.”

Chief Minister Eva Lawler said getting Territory children “work ready” was a key focus for her government and “Brian has decades of experience in helping to set our kids up for success in the workforce”.

“Brian has spent decades getting the next generation of Territorians work ready – and that’s why he will be a great member of the team,” she said.

“Brian went to school in the Port Darwin electorate, he’s helped lead one of the biggest middle schools in the Territory and he knows how to work hard to get things done.”

The Port Darwin electorate spans the city’s CBD, Cullen Bay and Larrakeyah.

Historically a conservative-leaning seat, Mr Kirby won for Labor thanks to a major swing against the Country Liberal Party in the 2016 NT election.

He held it with a slim 51.9 per cent to 48.1 per cent two-party-preferred margin in 2020, and the seat is one of the key battlegrounds the CLP could win back from the government in August.

The CLP preselected high profile health professional Robyn Cahill OAM as its candidate for Port Darwin.