New NT Chief Minister Natasha Fyles rise to power

Thirty years ago a 15-year-old Territory teen wrote her name on a party sign-up form. Now she has wrestled the reins of the Territory’s top job as Chief Minister into her own hands.

THIRTY years ago a 15-year-old Territory teen wrote her name on a party sign-up form.

On Friday she used that same hand to swear in as the next Chief Minister.

Natasha Fyles has been living in the public spotlight for the last decade, but behind the scenes the mother-of-two former teacher has become a powerful force within the Labor Party.

In an emotional inaugural speech, Ms Fyles described why she started on the path that has lead her to become the Territory’s 12th Chief Minister.

“When someone runs for parliament 38 weeks pregnant, you’re not doing it for yourself — You’re doing it for your community,” she said.

“My partner, Paul and I are now raising our two children, Ollie and Henry here in the Territory because it is the best place in the world.

“I’m a Territory, girl through and through.

“I put my hand up to serve because I love this place.”

The daughter of two teachers, Ms Fyles worked as a physical education teacher at St Mary’s Primary School before becoming the Executive Director of Royal Life Saving Society NT.

Following the retirement of Nightcliff’s Jane Aagaard, Ms Fyles was able to retain the safe Labor seat with a 9 per cent majority, allowing her to take up a seat in opposition in 2012.

Over a decade Ms Fyles has turned the Northern Suburbs electorate into the safest seat in the Territory, with a comfortable 24 per cent majority in the 2020 election.

Ms Fyles has served in critical portfolios in government, including her current role as Health Minister and as Attorney-General in her second term.

Following the 2020 Labor victory Ms Fyles took on more than six portfolios, cementing her role as a critical political player.

Ms Fyles’s political career has not been without scandal.

As Racing Minister she oversaw the handling of the $12m Darwin Turf Club grandstand grant, which was later the subject of an ICAC investigation

Ms Fyles has received both praise and anger over her management of the pandemic as both the Health Minister and National Resilience Minister.

Natasha Fyles

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Criticisms of the government’s handling of the pandemic have been widespread, ranging from tourism and hospitality operators to Aboriginal and community health — not to mention anti-vaxxers.

As the Health Minister Ms Fyles has coped much of the abuse over the pandemic policies.

During a bizarre court procedure in April Ms Fyles was served with nearly 100 Notice of Appeal documents over the proposed extension to the Covid emergency powers.

While often overshadowed by Mr Gunner for major announcements for the pandemic, Ms Fyles proved herself a sturdy operator in the daily press scrum.

Ms Fyles also oversaw the Health Ministry during a period of chronic understaffing.

In February Royal Darwin Hospital went into a Code Yellow, indicating a pending emergency due to the pandemic and a lack of staff.

As Leader of Government Business Ms Fyles has been a keen and tactical operator, often using Labor’s majority to stop debate much to the Opposition’s frustration.

She currently sits on the Privileges, Standing Orders, Standing Committee on the ICAC parliamentary committees.

Natasha Fyles

Ms Fyles was selected as the Territory’s fourth most powerful woman, behind Attorney-General Selena Uibo and her speculated leadership rival Nicole Manison.

Away from the parliamentary chaos, Ms Fyles has dealt with her own family challenges.

Two years into her first term, Ms Fyles spoke about the anguish after her two-year-old son Henry was diagnosed with a rare spinal cord tumour.

The toddler was the youngest child to ever be diagnosed with an Intramedullary Spinal Cord Glioma/Astrocytoma Tumor, with the family needing to fly to America for the lifesaving treatment.