Ministers, community members react to Chief Minister’s resignation

Community members and ministers have given thanks to Michael Gunner, after he stepped down as Chief Minister to spend more time with his family.

UPDATE 4PM TUES: DEPUTY Chief Minister Nicole Manison, and other community members have reacted to the news of Michael Gunner’s resignation as chief minister.

Ms Manison sang praises for Mr Gunner, who she called a living legend.

“I think Michael will leave an outstanding legacy of being a transformative chief minister,” she said. “It has been an honour. … You are a legend.”

Alice Springs local Nadine Williams said Mr Gunner had performed well in his position.

“He learnt a lot from Claire Martin,” she said.

“I think he has done a reasonably good job.”

Centralian Santon Glordina said that he was glad that Gunner was spending time with his family.

“He’s all right, he just wants to spend time with his family and that’s okay,” he said.

UPDATE 11.30AM TUES: Outgoing Chief Minister Michael Gunner said he was stepping down to avoid a second near-death experience while in the taxing top job.

Addressing the media following his shock post-budget resignation, Mr Gunner choked back tears as he described the weight of leadership on him and his young family.

“It’s no secret that the last few years have been intense,” he said.

“It’s taken a lot out of me, like it has for plenty of us — add to that a heart attack and a couple of kids.

“I don’t need a second near-death experience to know that life is unpredictable and can be cut short. One of those was more than enough.”

Mr Gunner voice cracked as he thanked his wife, Kristy O’Brien, who stood by him holding their weeks-old newborn Nash.

His emotional farewell was interrupted only by the giggles of his toddler Hudson as he wove around the packed press room.

Gunner resigns

“When I held Nash for the first time that was it. Game over. I knew straight away I was done,” Mr Gunner said.

“I have always given 100 per cent to this job — anything less is short-changing the people who sent me here.

“I can no longer look Territorians in the eye and say I can keep giving 100 per cent every day.

“Now I can’t do that, that I shouldn’t be in the chair.

“There is a lifespan to a Chief for a reason.

“Forty-six is young for a pollie, but it is pretty old for a father of a newborn and a toddler.”

Mr Gunner said he would remain as the representative for Fannie Bay, and had not accepted any portfolios or new jobs.

Speculation of Mr Gunner’s intention to step down had been circulating for months, with many believing was attempting to outlast Clare Martin as the longest serving Labor Chief Minister.

“I’m not going to stay in the job longer than I need just for the check for the ego,” Mr Gunner said after five years, eight months and 13 days in office.

Mr Gunner said his deputy Nichole Manison would be acting as Chief Minister until the Labor Party was able to meet on Friday.

The outgoing leader specifically thanked two “legends” of his cabinet for their work, heralding “the deputy of my dreams” Ms Manison and “Australia’s best health Minister” Natasha Fyles.

The two women are expected to be among the main contenders to replace Mr Gunner in the leadership ballot.

Outgoing Chief Minister Michael Gunner with Natasha Fyles and Nicole Manison.

Mr Gunner said he hoped the party would be united in its vote, but said regardless of who took over they would have his full support.

“The Territory is in safe hands,” he said.

“I have been very fortunate to lead I strong stable and united team.

“No midnight coups, no weekly reshuffles, no waking up to wonder who’s running the show.

“My cabinet and caucus colleagues don’t put themselves ahead of the team or ahead of Territorians.

“I know that won’t change this week for the following weeks.”

Mr Gunner and Ms Manison both belong to the right faction, while Ms Fyles sits with the left of the party.

Ms Manison would not confirm if she would put her name forward, but Mr Gunner made a coy call for her to run.

He thanked her for “everything you’ll keep doing — especially if you put up your hand for the top job. That’s your decision. No pressure.”

Acknowledging the momentous announcement on her birthday, Ms Manison started her opening address with the exclamation: “Well, what a day”.

“This team is determined to continue the legacy of Michael,” she said.

Gunner resigns

The shock announcement overtook the traditional post-Budget press conference, with Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro blasting his decision to retire on Tuesday.

Speaking outside parliament ahead of Question Time, Ms Finocchiaro called it a “budget of quitters” and warned Mr Gunner’s departure would leave a “high level of chaos” within the Labor government.

“Instead of the Labor government focusing on jobs and Territorians and reducing crime, they’re going to be focusing on getting their own jobs and jostling for ministerial positions,” she said.

The CLP leader said the only reason the budget bottomline had improved was because of “huge GST windfalls from the Morrison government”.

She also took aim at a lack of initiatives to combat crime and the cost of living in the Territory within Tuesday’s budget.

Reflecting on his legacy, Mr Gunner said he was proud to have been the first-Territory born Chief.

“I was born here, I’ve worked and started a family here, I will die happy here,” he said.

Mr Gunner said his priority while in government was two fold, addressing intergenerational issues and pulling the economy out of a “boom and bust” cycle.

“I set myself a challenge I knew I couldn’t actually be achieved in my term as Chief,” he said.

“How do we break those cycles of social dysfunction, trauma, dispossession, there’s a lot that goes into that into that bucket.

“How do we set the Territory up for the long-term that cuts through on that social side, that cuts through on the economic side?

“It’s going to be it’s going to be hard grinding backbreaking effort, but you can see the social change happening.

“For me, the best thing that could ever happen is if in a generation or two time, I can see that absolute change.”

Mr Gunner said he believed the Territory had led the nation in the handling of the “insane, intense period” of Covid.

“There was no playbook for the pandemic, we did everything we could, the best we could all the way through that,” he said.

Gunner resigns

“Lives have to come first, and saving lives is our jobs. So for me, no regrets.

“It that was just an insane, intense period.”

Mr Gunner said the death threats against him and his children over the pandemic emergency measures played “zero” impact on his decision to stand down.

“If toxicity or anything like that was going to stop you being Chief you’d never start,” he said.

Mr Gunner said he was not under investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption in relation to the Zachary Rolfe trial.

#BREAKING: Chief Minister Michael Gunner is speaking to the media after announcing his resignation in parliament.

Posted by The NT News on Monday, May 9, 2022

INITIAL 10.30AM TUES: MICHAEL Gunner has announced he is stepping down as the Territory’s Chief Minister, making his final act passing the 2022-23 Budget.

In a teary address, Mr Gunner told the NT parliament on Tuesday he would be resigning, with his deputy Nichole Manison taking his place in an acting capacity.

“Handing down this budget is my final act as Treasurer, and my final act as Chief Minister,” Mr Gunner said.

Mr Gunner said he had been “grappling” with this decision for weeks, with the birth of his second son Nash confirming his move to step down as Territory leader after six years.

“There is never a perfect time to step back, to walk away, to give others a go,” Mr Gunner said.

“But for me, for my family, this feels like the right time.”

“The highlights of my life are two things getting married to Kristy O’Brien and being a father.

“The birth of my second child confirmed something to me, my head and my heart are no longer here – they are home”.

His announcement came after Mr Gunner handed down a budget that forecasts a budget surplus in the next four years.

Mr Gunner said the Territory was entering a new era and that deserved new leadership.

Shocked politicians and audience members clapped as Mr Gunner ended his speech, before he hugged his deputy Ms Manison.

Ms Manison, Health Minister Natasha Fyles, Speaker Ngaree Ah Kit were all teary as they farewelled Ms Gunner, who has been the leader since 2016.

More to come.