Adam Giles brings back Dave Tollner

AUSTRALIA’S first indigenous head of government has controversially reinstated the NT indigenous affairs portfolio.

AUSTRALIA’S first indigenous head of government has controversially undone one of his own first acts in office by reinstating the Northern Territory indigenous affairs portfolio.

NT Chief Minister Adam Giles yesterday also brought back from exile his sacked ­former deputy, Dave Tollner, and unveiled his 10th cabinet line-up since becoming leader.

Mr Tollner returns to cabinet as Treasurer, Minister for Lands and Planning and Minister for Mines and Energy.

The combination will give Mr Tollner control of most of the revenue coming in and out of government, as well as of the ­resources and crown lands most attractive to developers, who are also the CLP’s biggest donors.

Mr Giles denied suggestions Mr Tollner, a previous leadership aspirant, would run a de facto chief minister’s office.

Mr Giles also reversed a decision made when he took over his party’s leadership in a coup in early 2013 to scrap the indigenous affairs portfolio and a stand alone department on the basis that he wanted all arms of ­government to deliver for Territorians equally.

Early last year he refused to reinstate the portfolio even when faced with threats from three Aboriginal backbenchers to resign from the government due to its perceived failure to ­deliver for bush electorates.

Mr Giles yesterday acknowledged his original move had not been entirely successful.

“It has become apparent that there is a lack of change in some areas of government where that needs to occur, so I’m taking on that role,” he said.

He said he would assume a new policy leadership role as Minister for Indigenous Affairs.

Independent and former CLP MP Alison Anderson, leader of the former rebel trio, accused Mr Giles of “trying to buy Aboriginal people off”.

“We can see straight through you,” she said.

Mr Giles’ latest cabinet line-up is the 14th since the Country Liberals won power in August 2012.

The Chief Minister acknowledged his team had “shot ourselves in the foot” with more than a week of political turmoil, in which he himself was purportedly dumped as leader, then clung on to power with the help of Mr Tollner by refusing to ­resign.