Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles resigns amid mounting pressure over leadership

 

Natasha Fyles has resigned as Northern Territory chief minister after failing to disclose her shareholdings in a mining company.

he Labor leader announced she was stepping down at a press conference this afternoon, saying she had failed to declare 754 shares, worth just under $2,500 in South32, a company which owns a manganese mine on Groote Eylandt.

Community members have for years called for government testing on the Groote Eylandt mine's health impact.

Earlier this year, Ms Fyles said the government would not investigate air pollution levels or health impacts following those requests, saying there was adequate monitoring already in place.

Ms Fyles was also the territory’s health minister.

Her resignation follows a series of integrity scandals

Last month Ms Fyles came under scrutiny for her undeclared shareholdings in gas company Woodside — worth about $5,400 — which she later divested.

Amid the scrutiny, she made repeated assurances she had declared all her financial interests as per the NT's legislated disclosures of interests requirements.

Weeks later she was referred to the NT's anti-corruption watchdog over her Woodside shares, as well as her political adviser's gas lobbying ties.

Ms Fyles said she had endeavoured to properly declare all her shareholdings, but ultimately, the South32 shares weren't disclosed on the NT's register of members' interests.

"It became clear that I did not declare … a small shareholding in a company called South32, which came from a BHP demerger in 2015," she said.

"It was not intentional, but it's unacceptable."

Ms Fyles said she wanted to assure Territorians she hadn't made any decisions "influenced by that small shareholding".

"But high standards are expected from people holding high office, as they should be," she said.

"I also hold myself to high standards. While I did not intentionally failed 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.

"I'm not going to make any excuses for that, so for this reason I believe the honourable course of action is to resign as chief minister."

Ms Fyles will continue as the Member for Nightcliff.

Who will contest the leadership?

Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison said she will contest the party leadership.

"More than ever, we need experienced and proven leadership that focuses on the things that matter most to Territorians.

"I believe I can offer that."

Ms Manison said she would focus on jobs, cost of living and public safety.

Chansey Paech, the attorney-general and Aboriginal affairs minister, said he would be "keeping [his] options open" following Ms Fyles' resignation.

"[I'm] … having discussions with colleagues and friends, and will let you all know my decision when I've carefully considered the best interests of territorians and the territory," he said.

If no leader can be chosen unanimously by the Labor caucus, the leadership contest will go to a rank-and-file membership ballot.

Ms Fyles' successor will be the government's third chief minister this term after former leader Michael Gunner retired after delivering the 2022 budget.

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