Four departments broken up, seven to remain unchanged as extent of agency shake-up revealed
AT least four Northern Territory departments will be broken up and their elements absorbed by new super offices as part of the incoming government’s move to slim down from 15 agencies to 11.
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AT LEAST four Northern Territory departments will be broken up and their elements absorbed by new super offices as part of the incoming government’s move to slim down from 15 agencies to 11.
A memo outlining agency changes, seen by the NT News, revealed the Department of Trade, Business and Innovation (DTBI), the Department of Tourism, Sport and Culture (DTSC), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Department of Local Government, Housing, and Community Development (DLGHCD) would be disassembled and its different parts absorbed into four souped-up departments.
It comes after Chief Minister Michael Gunner on Monday, while revealing his new-look cabinet, revealed the NT Government would shrink from 15 departments to 11, saving an estimated $5 million.
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He said the restructure would lead to swifter decision making.
Mr Gunner confirmed jobs would be lost as part of the move but said no one would be sacked.
“I anticipate that will be done essentially through attrition as you go through what that organisational restructure might be over a period of time,” he said.
“So it wouldn’t be overnight.”
Four departments will grow and be rebadged.
Those include the Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet, which will take on the “majority” of Investment Territory from DTBI and take on Local Government, Community Development and the Aboriginal Interpreter Service from DLGHCD.
This department also includes the Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment.
Through its different elements, bureaucrats in this department will answer to five different Ministers – Chief Minister Michael Gunner, Lauren Moss, Paul Kirby, Selena Uibo and Chansey Paech.
The new Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade will take on the existing functions of DTBI while losing Investment Territory, take on Tourism and take from Attorney-General and Justice responsibility for racing, gaming, licensing and alcohol policy.
Four different Ministers have oversight this department – Nicole Manison, Natasha Fyles, Eva Lawler, and Paul Kirby.
The new Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security will take on the functions of DENR, be responsible for the new Office of Sustainable Water and take on Parks and Wildlife and Territory Wildlife parks from DTSC.
Two ministers, namely Ms Lawler and Ms Uibo, will have oversight of that department.
Territory Families, once a stand-alone department, will now be known as Territory Families, Housing and Communities and take on the added responsibilities of housing and Indigenous Essential Services from DLGHCD, disability from Health. Arts and Culture, Libraries, Sport and Heritage from DTSC, and interpreters but not Aboriginal Interpreter Service from DLGHCD.
Three different ministers have oversight of this department – Kate Worden, Lauren Moss, Chansey Paech.
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Seven departments will remain relatively unchanged and each will report to a single Minister.
These departments are; Treasury and Finance reporting to Mr Gunner Attorney-General and Justice reporting to Minister Selena Uibo, Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics reporting to Minister Eva Lawler, Corporate and Digital Development reporting to Minister Paul Kirby, Department of Education reporting to Minister Lauren Moss, Health reporting to Minister Natasha Fyles, and Police, Fire and Emergency Services reporting to Minister Nicole Manison.
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