UPDATED: Housing Minister Gerry McCarthy has retired just three months out from the Northern Territory election.

The Labor sitting member has held the seat of Barkly, which includes Tennant Creek and surrounding areas, since 2008.

The Barkly sub branch of the Australian Labor Party is meeting tomorrow night to endorse a candidate for pre-selection to contest the election, which will take place on August 22.

Mr McCarthy’s shock retirement leaves Tennant Creek Mayor Steve Edgington as the only candidate currently running in the seat.

Mr Edgington will run for the Country Liberals against Labor’s new candidate.

Mr McCarthy did not provide any statement, but Chief Minister Michael Gunner issued a statement Wednesday morning offering “huge thanks” to the “Bull from the Barkly”.

“This has been a very difficult decision for Gerry but he feels now is the right time to pass the torch onto someone who shares his passion and commitment to drive change and create prosperity in the Barkly region,” Mr Gunner said.

“Serving an electorate around one and a half times the size of Victoria means Gerry has travelled more than a million kilometres to visit his constituents during his time as local member. His legacy within the Barkly includes construction of the Barkly Work Camp, McArthur River Bridge, a causeway at Gilbert Swamp and a modern gymnasium at the Tennant Creek High School.

“I love the Bull from the Barkly and will greatly miss his contributions to public service.”

Mr McCarthy was also involved in the controversial Stella Maris deal to Unions NT that a 2014 inquiry found McCarthy had acted without “accountability, responsibility or with proper consideration”.

In 2017, he sacked the Palmerston council over allegations of dysfunction while serving as Minister for Local Government.

And in 2018, it was revealed Mr McCarthy and some of his cabinet colleagues had charged taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars for company director courses they didn’t finish. Mr McCarthy charged taxpayers more than $5,000 on top of the course cost of $7,700 to take the private management course in Sydney.