New Leader Chosen for NT After Shares Scandal

Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles speaks to media at a pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Darwin, Monday, August 8, 2022. AAP Image/Aaron Bunch

Eva Lawler will be the Northern Territory’s (NT) new Chief Minister following Natasha Fyles’ resignation over integrity concerns.

“This afternoon, the territory Labor Caucus met, unanimously deciding that the Member for Drysdale, Eva Lawler, will be chief minister,” the Dec. 20 statement read.

Attorney-General Chanston “Chansey” Paech will be her deputy, officially removing former deputy Nicole Manison from the leadership competition.

Ms. Manison will move to the backbench while continuing to serve as the member of Wanguri.

“We thank Nicole for her hard work over the last seven years in cabinet and the work that she has put into growing the Territory’s jobs and economy,” the statement read.

Ms. Lawler said it’s an “honour” to be the next leader of the NT on Dec. 20, eight months before the territory election.

“Our Government’s absolute focus is on creating jobs, tackling cost of living pressures and making the Territory safer,” she said.

The ex-teacher was elected to the NT Legislative Assembly in 2016, representing Drysdale in Palmerston on the outskirts of Darwin.

She has held the education, environment and infrastructure portfolios throughout her tenure.

Mr. Paech is responsible for Indigenous Affairs and started his parliamentary career in 2016, representing the seat of Namatjira.

“As a little kid running usually barefoot around Alice Springs, I never dreamed that one day I’d be Deputy Chief Minister of the Northern Territory,” he wrote on Facebook.

“I give my commitment to work as Deputy in the Lawler Labor Government to ensure we all have the opportunities to thrive and build our futures, and realise our dreams for ourselves and our home.”

The ex-Alice Springs council member is the sole openly gay male in the NT parliament.

He and Ms. Manison defeated Joel Bowden, a former footballer turned unionist, who was reportedly eyeing the top position.

Ms. Manison took to Facebook to send her best wishes to Ms. Lawler.

“Despite receiving very strong support to run as Chief, I have decided to support Eva,” she said.

She mentioned resigning from the Cabinet to “make way for the next generation of leaders in the NT Government.”

“I love the Territory with all my heart. I have given it my all, and my proudest accomplishment is the example I have set for girls growing up here that you can be a mum and a Cabinet Minister,” she said.

Ms. Lawler thanked Ms. Manison for her dedicated efforts over the past seven years in the Cabinet, particularly for her contributions to the growth of jobs and the economy in the Territory.

Opposition Leader Slams ‘Disastrous’ Reshuffling

NT Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro strongly criticised the “disastrous” reshuffling, saying Ms. Lawler has “delivered record debt, higher cost of living, the worst performing economy in the nation.”

“For seven long years, Eva Lawler and Chansey Paech have been key decision makers in a Labor Government that has been embroiled in integrity scandals, delivering sky-rocketing crime, and an economy going backwards,” she said.

She added both have a history of “aggressive outbursts” and engaging in “racially divisive politics.”

“The bitter infighting and backroom deals that have produced this ‘disastrous deal’ will rear its head very soon.”

She criticised Ms. Fyles separately, stating her resignation follows a “turbulent” year of Labour shortcomings, where Territorians suffered due to “failed” leadership and policies.

Fyles Removed Amid Shareholder Controversy

Ms. Fyles was removed as a leader on Dec. 19 after it was revealed she had undisclosed shares in remote manganese mine South32.

South32, which separated from BHP Billiton in 2015, trades on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) at $3.26.

Ms. Fyles, a member of the Labor Party, owned 754 shares in the company, valued at less than $2,500 (US$1,680) according to the company’s current share price.

“It was an error on my behalf, and I don’t have any excuse for that,” Ms Fyles said.

“It was not deliberate, it was not intentional, but it’s unacceptable.”

“While I did not intentionally fail to declare this interest, it is clear that I have failed to meet the standards that are set for us, and the standards that I set for myself, and I am not going to make any excuses for that,” added.

“For this reason, I believe the honourable course of action is to resign as chief minister.”

The bungle follows a series of integrity issues involving the chief minister and health minister, who left the position after just 18 months in office.

Earlier in 2023, Ms. Fyles said the government wouldn’t look into air pollution or health effects, despite residents worrying about manganese dust.

In November, she had to sell shares in Woodside due to concerns about conflicts of interest, especially concerning the government’s significant expansion of the NT gas industry.

Australia has seen a series of resignations from state or territory leaders.

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk resigned in early December, and before that Victorian premier Daniel Andrews stepped down in late September.

In May, Mark McGowan resigned as the Western Australia premier.

Notably, ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr is the only leader whose time in office predates the COVID-19 pandemic.