NT politics: Mark Turner questions Fyles government’s bail, policing review

An outspoken Labor MLA and former cop has questioned his party’s review of policing powers, claiming the laws already allow what was touted as a new solution.

An outcast Labor member and former cop has questioned his party’s move to review bail laws and policing powers after the death of Declan Laverty.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles announced on Tuesday a seven-point plan to make Territorians safe again, amid community outcry over the 20-year-old bottleshop worker’s alleged murder.

However Mark Turner, who served as a Territory police officer before being elected the Blain MLA, said Labor’s pledge to review policing powers to search someone for a weapon was not clear.

“I’m confused about the announcement to drop it down from ‘reasonable grounds’ to ‘suspect,’” he said.

Blain MLA Mark Turner has questioned his party’s seven-point plan to make Territorians feel safe again after Declan Laverty’s alleged murder. Picture: Che Chorley

“The Weapons Control Act 2001 (NT) was identified as the legislation in question.

“This provides a power of search at Section 19 stipulating reasonable grounds to suspect that the person is in possession of a weapon that is prohibited, controlled or offensive.”

Mr Turner said he had written to the Attorney-General Chansey Paech and Police Minister Kate Worden requesting a briefing.

“I’m asking what problem are we trying to solve?” he said.

“The threshold is already reasonable grounds to suspect, not reasonable grounds to believe.”

On similar questions from this publication, a government spokeswoman said existing legislation already granted officers these powers however NT Police had asked for it to be easier to use.

However Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said on Wednesday the move would look at changing the “threshold from reasonable to suspecting.”

“That is a piece of information from the public, it could be someone saying to police when they arrived, I saw that person have a knife, or they’ve put it somewhere,” she said.

“That would allow them to then undertake that search, which could potentially alleviate the situation from happening.”

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has announced an immediate review of bail laws and police powers across the Territory, alongside Deputy Commissioner Michael Murphy. Picture: Annabel Bowles

Deputy Commissioner Michael Murphy said it would be a “step in the right direction”.

“This lowers that burden of proof to suspicion,” he said.

“It could be an officer’s hunch, it could be a piece of information from community to allow us to enact some powers to go into depth in someone’s behaviour before it escalates.”

Mr Turner also said he was concerned about the focus on stop and search powers.

“It is a tool, but overused and without thought will result in further fracturing of our community at a time when it needs it least,” he said.

“The disproportionate impact of stop and search on marginalised communities can damage trust and relationships between the police and these communities, potentially hindering effective policing in the long run.”

Mr Turner also said the Territory’s issues would not be fixed by bail reform and needed to be dealt with on “multiple angles”, including from a health response.

“By the time we get to bail decision we already have victims, we need to reframe the conversations and address this before we have victims, not afterwards.”

He said in the meantime, police were “hurting”.

Blain MLA Mark Turner crossed the floor to support a parliamentary committee to inquire a policing ‘crisis’, which was voted down by the Labor bloc. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“The rank and file will always front up and do what they can but they’re stretched razor thin,” he said.

Mr Turner also crossed the floor during Wednesday’s parliament sittings to support the CLP’s bid to establish a select committee on policing.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said it would “urgently inquire into the ongoing worsening crisis” of police resources, executive leadership, mental health, and wellbeing and safety of Territory police.

With Mr Turner and three independent members’ backing, the CLP almost had the numbers with 11 in support compared to Labor’s 13 on the floor against.

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Originally published as NT politics: Mark Turner questions Fyles government’s bail, policing review