The NT’s Country Liberal Party (CLP) has chosen another former policeman to be the Deputy Chief Minister, replacing Willem Westra van Holthe who quit on Valentine’s Day.

Peter Styles, a former police officer like his predecessor Mr Westra van Holthe, was chosen at a meeting of the CLP’s parliamentary wing on Monday afternoon.

He is the sixth deputy since the CLP came to power in 2012.

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It is understood the contest came down to Sports Minister Garry Higgins and Peter Styles, after Peter Chandler did not contest as expected.

Mr Styles’ promotion to Deputy Chief Minister comes a day after Mr Westra van Holthe stood down from the role, claiming a personal smear campaign left him with no choice other than to resign because the integrity of the Government was being compromised.

Mr Westra van Holthe had been under pressure from some in his own parliamentary wing and the broader party since revelations of his personal involvement with a Vietnamese company looking to invest in the Northern Territory.

Fronting the media on Monday afternoon, Mr Giles, with Mr Styles at his side, admitted: “I think we all know last week there was a bit of a hiccup with the former deputy chief minister.”

Backing away from his assertion last week that Mr Westra van Holthe had done nothing wrong, today Mr Giles said his former deputy’s behaviour appeared to “breach ministerial guidelines”.

“I think that Willem didn’t make the correct judgment in seeking to make an investment at the time,” he said.

“When you’re looking at the role of a minister, you’ve got to be very careful in this regard. I think it does look to breach ministerial guidelines.

“We’ve now acted very quickly following Willem’s resignation.

“Peter takes over the role of Deputy Chief Minister, fulfilling all the same portfolio responsibilities that he has [had] in the past.”

Mr Styles currently holds ministerial portfolios of Business, Racing, Gaming and Licensing, Asian Engagement and Trade, Employment and Training, Corporate and Information Services, Multicultural Affairs, Young Territorians, Senior Territorians and Defence Industries.

Mr Styles, 62, has held the marginal seat of Sanderson in Darwin’s northern suburbs since 2008, an electorate that is tipped to be a key battleground in the 2016 August election.

“My first role is to support the Chief Minister,” Mr Styles said.

“[The CLP] have a plan to go out there to create jobs for our kids and grandkids.

“Most people who know me in my electorate know I am out there every weekend working for my community.”

Reshuffle expected to install fresh faces

The demotion of Mr Westra van Holthe to the backbench has also prompted the Government to announce a “very small” reshuffle, just a week after ruling out such a possibility.

Northern Territory Country Liberals politician Lia Finocchiaro. Photo: ABC

Mr Giles will take back the police portfolio from Mr Chandler, while it is also expected that backbenchers Lia Finocchiaro and Nathan Barrett will be promoted, as retiring ministers Dave Tollner and John Elferink start to see a downsizing of their responsibilities.

“I’ve said that I want Nathan Barrett and Lia Finocchiaro to start coming forward,” Mr Giles said.

“They are part of the new team going ahead as we see Dave Tollner and John Elferink exit.

“I don’t want to lose their skills and abilities because they are good political reporters and in their administrative roles but I want to blood Nathan and Lia.

“We’re taking a new team with a new approach and a fresh face forward.”

The CLP is a minority government, holding 12 of the NT’s 25 seats, with Labor holding seven and the independents six.

The party has seen two leaders, several leadership challenges and numerous deputy leaders appointed since being elected in 2012.

– ABC