Politics · Australia · 6 hrs ago
Former NT staffer held Beetaloo Energy shares while working for treasurer
Sonia Harvey held 62,500 Beetaloo Energy shares while working in the office of Northern Territory Treasurer Bill Yan.
She joined the office in March 2025 after three years in a government and community relations role at the gas company, and left in September.
Harvey said she disclosed her shares during a pre-employment check and complied with rules on conflicts of interest.
She also said she had no contact with the company about its gas agreement and was not involved in government budget or funding decisions.
During her time in the office, the Northern Territory government signed a deal for appraisal gas from Beetaloo Energy’s Beetaloo Basin project, but has kept its details secret for commercial reasons.
The deal supported testing gas for the territory’s energy grid, amid concerns about future gas supply.
The government has also backed highway and corridor projects linked to the basin.
The account does not allege wrongdoing by Harvey, and it does not say what further action, if any, will follow.
Former staffer Sonia Harvey held 62,500 shares in Beetaloo Energy while working for Northern Territory Treasurer Bill Yan.
Harvey said she disclosed the shares before starting the job and complied with conflict-of-interest requirements.
She worked in Yan’s office from March 2025 until leaving in September 2025.
During her tenure, the Northern Territory government signed an agreement with Beetaloo Energy for appraisal gas from its Beetaloo Basin project.
Harvey said she had no engagement with the company while working for Yan and was not privy to information about the gas agreement.
- Who
- Sonia Harvey, a former staffer in the office of NT Treasurer Bill Yan, held shares in Beetaloo Energy.
- What
- She held 62,500 shares while working in the office and said she disclosed them before starting the job.
- When
- She worked there from March to September 2025.
- Where
- In the Northern Territory government.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Harvey left her role as Beetaloo Energy’s government and community relations vice-president.
Harvey was hired by the office of NT Treasurer and Infrastructure Minister Bill Yan.
Yan announced a contract worth more than $900,000 for technical advice on planning for the Territory Energy Link.
The NT government signed an agreement with Beetaloo Energy to secure appraisal gas from its Beetaloo Basin project.
Harvey left Yan’s office for personal reasons.
- Shares held
- 62,500 Beetaloo Energy shares
- Estimated share value
- Around $13,750
- Staff role
- Hired by Bill Yan’s office in March 2025
- Departure
- September 2025
- Highway contract
- $68 million for stage three of the Carpentaria Highway upgrade
- Infrastructure funding
- Federal and NT governments allocated a combined $262 million to the Carpentaria Highway upgrade
What people are saying
I have complied with the relevant requirements applying to ministerial staff, including in relation to the declaration and management of conflicts of interest
no engagement