A cabinet reshuffle has delivered an early Christmas to some members of the Northern Territory government, with one notable exception.
Chief Minister Adam Giles announced the new line-up on Friday afternoon, which did not feature former treasurer and deputy chief minister David Tollner.
Only three days earlier, Mr Giles said his best friend would probably return to the frontbench, after he was pushed to resign in August for making homophobic slurs to a gay staffer, who was the son of backbencher Gary Higgins.
While Mr Tollner remains absent, Mr Higgins appears to have been rewarded - he has picked up environment, sport and recreation, and senior territorians.
Mr Giles denied Mr Higgins's elevation was an appeasement.
"It's got absolutely nothing to do with the appointment of ministers," he said.
"We look at who has the best opportunity to provide leadership from a ministerial capacity in a range of portfolios."
Mr Giles said Mr Higgins had performed well in a demanding remote and regional seat, and the "lighter load" of portfolios would allow him to settle into the role of minister.
Mr Giles has reduced his portfolios from 12 to eight, taking on tourism and arts and museums himself in what he says is a bid to promote the NT's cultural life as well as economic development.
He remains treasurer, and has rejected suggestions this is because he has no faith in other members to handle the job.
"I've been very interested in Treasury since I've had it and I've decided I'd like to keep (it)," he told reporters.
Attorney-General John Elferink has taken the health portfolio from Robyn Lambley, who swapped him for corrections, as well as taking on the difficult education portfolio.
Mr Giles denied this was because deputy leader and former education minister Peter Chandler had been struggling in a long-running stoush with teachers over policy and an enterprise bargaining agreement.
He said Mr Chandler had, in fact, been promoted by taking on police, fire and emergency services.
The other reallocations are mostly minor.
Mr Giles said the focus for 2015 would be on developing northern Australia's infrastructure and education.
"It's a very important reform component going forward to make sure we can get indigenous kids educated in the NT," he said.
Parliament will resume in February.
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