Andrew Warton has been appointed the NT Fire and Emergency Services first commissioner by the Lawler Government, following the agency’s split from the tri-service with police earlier this year.

Fire and Emergency Services Minister Brent Potter said in a statement Mr Warton had been the acting CEO for the service since April 2, and was permanently appointed to the new role on Tuesday.

Mr Warton was formally the chief officer of the Northern Territory Emergency Service for about two and a half years. Since leaving that role in 2016, he has run his own business, which he describes as a private mediation practice and workplace investigation, emergency management, and strategic advice consultancy company.

Mr Potter said Mr Warton brought a wealth of experience and leadership to the role, specialising in law enforcement and crisis management.

“Mr Warton has served the Territory strongly over his tenure with the Northern Territory Police and Emergency Services department, while also serving overseas bringing with him a wealth of experience to this crucial role,” Mr Potter said.

“He also firmly understands the NT’s unique weather conditions in responding to multiple cyclone emergencies and floods across the jurisdiction,” Mr Potter said.

According to his LinkedIn page, Mr Warton was also previously with the Australia Federal Police in Australia and in a range of internationally based roles including in East Timor, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Samoa.

The government had said at the start of April there was a national recruitment campaign for the commissioner’s role, with applications to close on April 21, and a successful candidate to be announced by the end of June.

The NT was only jurisdiction where police, fire, and emergency services were combined in the one agency.

The Fire and Emergency Services Amendment Act 2024 was passed in the March sittings of the Legislative Assembly, while the new NTFES agency was established on March 27. For an un-explained reason it existed for a week before Mr Warton was appointed as the temporary CEO.

The role of Chief Fire Officer will be maintained, and they would report to the commissioner.

However, Chief Minister Eva Lawler said on ABC Radio Tuesday morning that Mr Spain had retired. Mr Wilton said this was not correct.