Labor calls on Lia Finocchiaro to ‘come clean’ on handling of Police Commissioner scandal
The Opposition says the government must ‘answer basic questions’ about its handling of the ICAC’s Operation Apollo report that toppled the Police Commissioner.
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The Opposition has called on the Country Liberal Party to “come clean” about its handling of the job for a mate scandal that toppled the NT Police Commissioner.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has pledged to table the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption’s full Operation Apollo report in parliament on Tuesday, pending legal advice on whether it can be disclosed under parliamentary privilege.
Opposition Leader Selena Uibo said whether or not it could be tabled, there were basic questions Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro had to answer.
“Why won’t she release the Solicitor-General’s advice she hid behind for a week to avoid addressing the issue,” Ms Uibo said.
“When did she really know that Acting Commissioner Dole was on the same hiring panel as Commissioner Murphy?
“Why did she call the Operation Apollo report an ‘educational tool for the public sector’ but refuse to make it public?
“For two weeks, she refused to act on the Operation Apollo findings. She needs to immediately release the report and be honest with Territorians about why she didn’t act sooner.”
Only a two-page, anonymised summary of the watchdog’s findings were released publicly at the end of last month.
The government withstood pressure to name the figure at the centre of the scandal, citing advice from the Solicitor-General regarding gag clauses in the ICAC Act.
More than a week later Police Commissioner Michael Murphy came forward and identified himself.
Forty-eight hours later he was gone – Mrs Finocchiaro telling Commissioner Murphy he had lost the confidence of the government and launching an independent inquiry into senior police recruitments.
That inquiry will only look back as far as August 2023.
Labor said it would back a broader inquiry to better support the police force.
“They want to see trust and integrity restored in their police leadership and the faith of the Territory community around processes that support and govern our police,” Ms Uibo said.
“An expanded inquiry, should the CLP decide to do that, I think would be very much welcomed.”
Fronting the media on Monday, Cabinet Minister Robyn Cahill said it was still unclear whether the full report could be legally tabled to parliament.
“If it’s possible, then (the Chief Minister) will take that action,” Ms Cahill said.
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