Eva Lawler to be sworn in as new NT chief minister after Natasha Fyles resigns over undisclosed shares

The Drysdale member replaces former chief minister Natasha Fyles, who resigned after failing to disclose mining shares.

Eva Lawler will on Thursday be sworn in as the Northern Territory’s new chief minister after a Labor Caucus reached a unanimous decision.

In a statement released late on Wednesday, the treasurer and education minister confirmed she would become the next NT leader about eight months out from the next election.

Ms Lawler will step in after former Territory chief minister Natasha Fyles resigned earlier this week after it was revealed she owned over $2,000 worth of undisclosed shares in mining company South-32, which owns the nation’s largest manganese mine.

Ms Fyles’ resignation follows an earlier scandal relating to undisclosed shareholdings in a gas company. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Earlier this year Ms Fyles said she would not investigate air pollution levels or health impacts following community concerns over potential manganese dust leaks.

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

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

Eva Lawler will be the next Chief Minister of the Northern Territory.

Ms Lawler was first elected to Parliament in 2016 and is currently serves as the Treasurer, Education Minister and Territory Development Minister.

She held the Infrastructure portfolio up until October.

Before entering politics, Ms Lawler had a 15-year teaching career where she worked as both a teacher and principal in Darwin.

Ms Lawler will be sworn in on Thursday after a bitter internal battle within Labor for the Chief Minister’s spot, which saw multiple people reportedly vying for the role, including Deputy Chief Nicole Manison - who will move to the backbench.

Attorney-General and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Chansey Paech will be sworn in as Deputy Chief.

The next NT election will be held in August next year.

Originally published as Eva Lawler to be sworn in as new NT chief minister after Natasha Fyles resigns over undisclosed shares