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NT Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley faces scrutiny over undisclosed family link to $40b data centre deal

Minister spruiked Beetaloo Digital gas project; sister-in-law works for the firm in strategic role

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By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time3 min
Sources2 outlets
Northern Territory Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley has been criticised for failing to publicly disclose that his sister-in-law is an employee of Beetaloo Digital, the gas company subsidiary that was granted exclusive rights to 185 hectares of government land for a proposed $40 billion hyperscale data centre. Maley jointly announced the deal at a July 22 press conference, saying it showed the Territory was open for business, but did not mention the family connection.

The Northern Territory deputy chief minister has been spruiking a gas company granted rights to 185 hectares of government land to build a $40 billion data centre, without publicly disclosing his sister-in-law works for the firm.

Gerard Maley, also the NT's energy minister, jointly announced the deal at a press conference on July 22. "This is a great opportunity to show the Territory is open for business on the back of the gas industry," Mr Maley said at the time.

The so-called "do not deal" agreement gives Beetaloo Digital exclusive rights over the land, granting them time to secure investors and work out whether the hyperscale data centre project is viable.

Mr Maley's sister-in-law, Bethaney Maley, a former journalist and public relations expert, is working for Beetaloo Digital — a subsidiary of gas company Beetaloo Energy — in a "strategic engagement" role.

In a statement, Mr Maley said he had made "all required declarations in accordance with the Ministerial Code of Conduct and Guidelines". When asked to provide proof of where and how he made the declaration, a spokesperson for Mr Maley said it was made "in accordance with the standard process".

Beetaloo Energy said in a short statement that "Bethaney Maley is an employee of Beetaloo Digital" and that "all proper disclosures have been made".

The NT's Disclosure Act does not require Mr Maley to disclose the link on his public register of interest.

However, the code of conduct says ministers "must declare any conflicts between their personal interests and public duties, including conflicts involving their Close Family Members, when they arise".

According to the code of conduct, "close family members may include a Minister's parents and siblings, extended family members such as uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents; and family, kinship or cultural connections (even if not directly related) such as elders, godparents, and people considered to be like-family."

"Ministers are to take a broad 'reasonable person' view when considering the capacity to be influenced, having regard to community perception and expectation of the highest standards of conduct by ministers," the code of conduct reads.

In an unrelated disclosure, the members' register of interest at NT Parliament House shows that Mr Maley did disclose he was gifted two tickets to a separate Beetaloo Energy event on July 4 this year, which his office told the ABC he did not end up attending.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The deal involves a massive $40 billion taxpayer-supported land grant for a data centre project that may or may not be viable.
  • The lack of public disclosure raises questions about the transparency and integrity of the Northern Territory government's decision-making process.
  • It could erode public trust in the NT government's ability to manage major resource and infrastructure deals impartially.

Background

The Northern Territory government has been actively promoting the development of a gas-powered data centre industry, citing the region's abundant natural gas reserves and relatively low cost of energy. The Beetaloo Basin, a large shale gas field in the NT, is central to these plans. In July this year, the government announced a "do not deal" agreement with Beetaloo Digital, a subsidiary of Beetaloo Energy, granting the company exclusive rights to 185 hectares of government land near Darwin to explore building a hyperscale AI data centre. The project is touted as being worth up to $40 billion if fully developed. The NT Ministerial Code of Conduct requires ministers to declare conflicts of interest involving close family members, with a broad "reasonable person" test.

Key Perspectives

Gerard Maley, NT Deputy Chief Minister/Energy Minister: Claims he made all required declarations in accordance with the code of conduct. His office provided no specific evidence of the disclosure beyond stating it was done through standard processes. Beetaloo Energy/Beetaloo Digital: Confirms Bethaney Maley is an employee and asserts that all proper disclosures have been made. The company stands to benefit from the exclusive land rights and potential project. Government accountability advocates and the public: The family link, especially given the minister's prominent role in promoting the project, raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest and whether the decision was influenced by personal connections rather than public benefit.

What to Watch

  • Whether Mr. Maley's office will provide concrete evidence of the declaration, such as documentation or a formal register entry.
  • Whether the NT opposition or integrity bodies will call for an investigation or independent review of the deal and the disclosure process.
  • Future development milestones for the Beetaloo Data digital project, including whether the company secures investors and the viability assessment proceeds.

Sources

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Articles published under the Zotpaper byline are synthesized from multiple source publications by our AI editor and reviewed by our editorial process. Each story combines reporting from credible outlets to give readers a balanced, comprehensive view.

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