Chief Minister Michael Gunner selects his new cabinet
CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner is spending the weekend working out which of his 14-member team will make the cut for his new Northern Territory cabinet
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THE Chief Minister is spending the weekend working out which of his 14 member team will make the cut for his new Northern Territory cabinet.
And while he is doing that the NT Labor Party is mulling over what options it has over its concerns about the postal vote process in Central Australian seats.
The official declaration of the NT Election result will happen Monday morning.
Mr Gunner confirmed his Labor caucus team will meet Monday morning with an announcement of the new ministry and their portfolio responsibilities to follow.
He will have to find at least two replacements for defeated Territory Families and Energy Minister Dale Wakefield, who lost her Braitling seat and the retired Housing Minister Gerry McCarthy. However he has already said that his winning Ministers, who were there before the election, will remain in cabinet.
The big question is will they have the same portfolios.
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A spokesman for Mr Gunner cleared up confusion around the ministry selection process with re-elected member for Sanderson Kate Worden suggesting on Mix 104.9 last week that caucus votes on the ministry.
“The cabinet selection process has not changed … the chief chooses the portfolios,” Mr Gunner’s spokesman said.
“Caucus is meeting on Monday morning and an announcement of the ministry is most likely Monday.”
Michael Gunner was buoyant about his 14-seat election success.
“We are honoured to get the support of Territorians for a second term,” he said.
“We don’t see this as a reward, but as a renewal of our responsibilities to Territorians.
“We’re going to keep doing whatever it takes to protect Territorians, and protect Territory jobs.”
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A spokesman for the Labor Party did not elaborate on what its exact concerns were about the postal vote process in Central Australian seats.
The Gunner Government extended postal voting until September 4 allowing almost two weeks after election night for ballots to arrive.
There was a surprise upset in Barkly with the CLP’s Steve Edgington edging out Labor’s Sid Vashist after the last lot of postal ballots.
There were 81 postal votes counted in Barkly on Friday, which was enough to push Mr Edgington across the line by seven votes.