Canberra
Natasha Fyles, the Chief Minister of Australia’s Northern Territory (NT), announced her resignation on Tuesday following revelations of undisclosed shareholdings in a mining company, South32. Fyles had previously declared all her interests but failed to disclose holdings in the mining and metals company. The announcement came just a day after reports surfaced about Fyles owning shares in South32, which operates a manganese mine on Groote Eylandt off the NT’s north-east coast. The NT’s Legislative Assembly members are obligated to publicly disclose all financial interests under the Members’ Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards act. Fyles, who had been under scrutiny for potential conflicts of interest related to shares in gas company Woodside, stated in November that she had declared all her interests. However, she acknowledged the failure to disclose holdings in South32 on Tuesday. While emphasizing that the omission was not deliberate or intentional, Fyles deemed it unacceptable, leading to her decision to resign as Chief Minister. She assured the public that her decision-making had not been influenced by the shareholding in question. A former school teacher, Fyles assumed the role of Chief Minister in May 2022. Her resignation comes eight months before the next election in August 2024, where the center-left Labor Party will be seeking a third consecutive term in power. Fyles also stepped down from her position as the NT’s Minister for Health but affirmed her intent to remain in politics.
