Matt Conlan assumes Northern Territory leisure portfolios

Following the election of the new Country Liberal Government in the Northern Territory, Territory MP Matthew 'Matt' Conlan has been appointed Minister for the Territory's five leisure portfolios.

Conlan, the MP for the Alice Springs electorate of Greatorex has been named Minister for Tourism and Major Events; Minister for Arts and Museums; Minister for Sport and Recreation; Minister for Racing; Minister for Parks and Wildlife.

With a pre-political career in radio, Conlan moved to Alice Springs in 2000 as breakfast announcer for Radio 8HA.

In 2006, Conlan Matt won the Best Talk Presenter Award at the 19th Australian Commercial Radio Awards for his work on the breakthrough talkback show called Territory Today.

Elected to the Northern Territory Parliament in a by-election in 2007, Conlan was Shadow Minister for Health, Central Australia and Public Employment in the last Northern Territory Parliament.

Conlan's experience of his new portfolios is not known although he does list playing golf and watching Aussie Rules football among his interests.

Among a shake up of senior executives at Northern Territory Government agencies by the new Government, Andrew Bridges has been named acting head of the Parks and Wildlife Commission.