Chief Minister Michael Gunner defends saying ‘consequences will flow’
Chief Minister Michael Gunner has continued to not answer key questions about the Rolfe verdict, a week on from the Supreme Court decision.
Northern Territory
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CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner has continued to not answer key questions about the Rolfe verdict, a week on from the Supreme Court decision.
After a half hour press conference about an arts centre in Alice Springs, Mr Gunner only took a couple of questions from journalists about the high profile case before he walked away from cameras.
In his first on camera appearance in the week since the verdict, Mr Gunner defended his disappearance, saying there were “not new questions”.
“I believe that the questions I’ve been asked have been answered by people in the last two years so they’re not new questions,” he said.
“They’re based off people taking my comments out of context.”
This is despite not holding a press conference to hear what any questions from the media were.
Ministers in his cabinet have gone to ground in recent days, with six cabinet ministers travelling with Mr Gunner to Tennant Creek despite escalating pressure on his government to answer key questions.
When asked whether he regretted saying “consequences will flow” in the aftermath of the shooting death of Kumanjayi Walker, Mr Gunner said “no”.
When asked when whether saying “consequences will flow” was pre-emptive, given no coronial inquest had been completed, Mr Gunner said “no”.
“If you look back at my comments I said I can’t speak for the coroner. They are independent,” he said.
“Because what has happened here is the union has deliberately, repeatedly and knowingly taken my comments out of context.
“That was a very serious moment in Yuendumu. There had a degree of unrest building up to the incident which included the health staff leaving.
“The community at the time had felt a sense of abandonment because of that.
“It was very important to be there on that day to talk to that community, to hear their concerns about government and send a message to them that we were back in that community.”
Natasha Fyles defends Chief Minister and ministers heading to Tennant Creek
HEALTH Minister Natasha Fyles has been questioned as to why she wasn’t the minister picked to accompany Chief Minister Michael Gunner to Yuendumu in 2019.
Mr Gunner on Tuesday told Mix 104.9 that his visit to the town following the shooting death of Kumanjayi Walker was motivated by “health staff leaving the community”.
He visited the town four days after the shooting with Police Minister Nicole Manison, where Mr Gunner said “consequences would flow”.
Mr Gunner has denied allegations of political interference with the decision to charge Constable Zach Rolfe over the death. Constable Rolfe was cleared of all charges last week.
Appearing on Mix 104.9 on Thursday morning, Ms Fyles was quizzed as to why she wasn’t picked to fly with Mr Gunner to Yuendumu, given the trip was related to her portfolio.
“Why didn’t you travel with him if that was the case?” Ms Woolf said.
“It was quite clear the Chief Minister needed to go to that community,” Ms Fyles said.
“They were in mourning, and he addressed them, and I think it was completely appropriate.”
Ms Fyles also hit back at criticism that government ministers had gone to Tennant Creek in recent days to avoid scrutiny.
She said the government was partaking in a community cabinet in the Barkly town, which happened “four to five times” a year.
“There’s an opportunity to get cabinet ministers out past that Berrimah Line we often hear about.”
Chief Minister, six ministers in Tennant Creek amid Rolfe fallout
THE Gunner government has gone to ground in astonishing fashion, opening a supermarket 1000km from Darwin while avoiding questions about whether it played any role in charging Constable Zach Rolfe with murder.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner and six of his cabinet colleagues have flown to Tennant Creek.
That’s despite the police union, Constable Rolfe’s father, the police officer’s legal team and the Opposition all raising questions about perceived political interference in the decision to charge Constable Rolfe.
Police Minister Nicole Manison, who under Westminster conventions bears ultimate responsibility for her portfolio, only provided a three line statement on the trial after the NT News contacted her office, five days after the verdict. She is currently isolating with Covid-19 in Darwin.
And Mr Gunner has repeatedly refused to front the media, almost a week since a Supreme Court jury found Constable Rolfe not guilty over the shooting death of Indigenous man Kumanjayi Walker. Mr Gunner’s only public statements have come in the form of a brief statement issued on Friday afternoon and a hostile radio interview on Tuesday morning over the phone.
On Tuesday, he denied any notion his government had interfered with the decision to charge Constable Rolfe.
On Wednesday, Mr Gunner spent the day in Tennant Creek, where he opened the local IGA that was previously gutted by fire. That’s despite the supermarket having actually opened to the public two weeks ago.
Health Minister Natasha Fyles was unwilling to speak about the Rolfe trial at a press conference on Wednesday.
“I’m not going to provide commentary on the Chief Minister’s interviews,” Ms Fyles said. The Chief Minister’s office refused to comment on the record, saying Mr Gunner was not compelled to comment on the verdicts of the Supreme Court.
His office refused to answer questions on why Mr Gunner hadn’t fronted a press conference since the verdict.
In a three-line statement, Ms Manison said a verdict had now been reached and it was “now time for healing and moving forward together”.
“A coronial process will now take place and we need to respect that process,” she said.
“This has been a stressful, painful and difficult time for the family of Kumanjayi Walker, Zach Rolfe and his family, our police force and the Yuendumu community.”
Independent MLA Kezia Purick said Mr Gunner had failed to show leadership. “The fact (Michael Gunner) has gone to ground … and no one else has spoken – I’d say the government is in a shambles,” Ms Purick said.
“There’s no obvious signs of trying to bring the community together.”
Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said cabinet’s decision to fly out to Tennant Creek showed they were “happy to prioritise the cutting of a ribbon over answering serious questions of political interference in a murder trial”.
“When serious questions are being asked, they completely go to ground.”
Ms Finocchiaro also criticised Ms Manison for not releasing a statement on the trial result after five days.
“Sitting at home with Covid is no excuse to not making comment on one of the most significant murder trials in the Territory’s history, particularly when it involves one of her own police officers,” she said.
‘Tone-deaf’: Gunner’s interview slammed amid Rolfe fallout
CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner has lashed out at the NT Police Association in a radio interview, denying any political interference on his behalf over the decision to charge Northern Territory police officer, Constable Zach Rolfe.
During the interview, Mr Gunner rejected calls for an independent investigation into the decision to charge Const. Rolfe, saying he wasn’t a “conspiracy nut”.
Mr Gunner also said he had full confidence in NT Police commissioner Jamie Chalker, amid growing calls for him to resign, including from Const. Rolfe’s father.
Mr Gunner then went on to say he hadn’t seen or read any of Mr Chalker’s comments since Const. Rolfe not guilty verdict was handed down on Friday.
In Yuendumu in 2019, Mr Gunner said “consequences would flow” from the shooting death of Kumanjayi Walker.
The quote has since been cited by the NTPA to allege government interference in the decision by authorities to charge Const. Rolfe.
Appearing on Mix 104.9’s Katie Woolf program on Tuesday morning, Mr Gunner said the comments were referring to a coronial inquest and denied any allegation he had interfered with the process.
He said it was an “appalling decision by the union to use those quotes out of context”.
“The union has led a two-year campaign of deliberate misinformation.”
In an uncomfortable moment, Mr Gunner admitted he had not seen Mr Chalker’s comments made on Friday, following the not guilty verdict.
Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro has called for a separate inquiry into the handling of the shooting death of Mr Walker.
Mr Gunner said any independent inquiry into the matter could be handled by ICAC and the Coroner.
He described calls for another separate inquiry as being a view shared by “conspiracy nuts”, which Ms Woolf said “ridiculous statement to make” on his behalf.
NTPA President Paul McCue, appearing right after the Chief Minister on Mix 104.9, labelled Mr Gunner’s comments as “tone-deaf” and rejected the allegation his organisation had mounted an “orchestrated campaign”.
“He said the consequences, he didn’t say recommendations,” Mr McCue said.
“I’m not saying he had any interference in the charges ... it’s the perception of what took place at Yuendumu.”
Mr McCue said he had urged Mr Gunner to retract the comments the day after they were made in 2019.
“The fact is he should never have been there,” he said.
“The fact is, it was a wrong decision.”
Mr McCue denied he was mounting a campaign to discredit the Chief Minister.
‘Unfounded allegations’ swirl over interference into Rolfe charges
THE Territory’s top cop has defended the arrest and investigation into Constable Zach Rolfe.
Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker said allegations of interference or political involvement in the arrest of the Alice Springs police officer were “factually incorrect”.
“Such unfounded allegations are an affront to the critical independence of the Northern Territory police and the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) and damage the trust and confidence in the criminal justice system which must be held by the community,” Mr Chalker said.
NT Police Association president Paul McCue called for an independent inquiry into the charges, arrest and investigation into Constable Rolfe’s actions.
He alleged there was interference that motivated the speed and nature of the charges against Constable Rolfe, as well as political statements that “fanned the flames of expectation”.
Mr Chalker said the investigation into the shooting of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker at Yuendumu began immediately, leading to a brief being provided to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
He said following a consideration of the brief, the initial charge was followed by two alternative charges.
“To suggest that this normal investigative and prosecutorial process, between a police force and DPP, was in any way interfered with, or had any political involvement or interference is factually incorrect,” he said.
Mr Chalker’s denial follows similar statements from Chief Minister Michael Gunner, who also denied political interference in the high-profile murder investigation.
Mr Chalker said it had been a difficult and distressing time for many, including the community, police, Constable Rolfe and his family.
“Notwithstanding the acquittal of Constable Rolfe I can understand that there are still many questions that the community has that are unanswered,” Mr Chalker said.
“A substantial coronial inquest is scheduled for later in the year, and many of those questions will be answered in that process.
“The Northern Territory police will fully co-operate with the Coroner, and the inquest is the proper venue to answer or address those questions. Until that inquest is held I am constrained in what I can say.”
A NT Court spokesman said a three-month coronial inquest presided by Judge Elisabeth Armitage was likely to run in September and be based in Alice Springs and Yuendumu.
Mr Chalker did not acknowledge calls for his resignation following the Rolfe trial, but said he was “proud of our people and I am proud to be the Commissioner of Police”.
UPDATE 2.30PM, MON: THE Chief Minister has denied political interference occurred in the arrest and charges against Constable Zach Rolfe following the shooting of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker.
The NT Police Association president has claimed political interference was “alive” when Constable Zach Rolfe was charged with the murder of Kumanjayi Walker in 2019.
Paul McCue has called for an investigation into the charging of the Alice Springs Constable three days after the not-guilty verdict.
Mr McCue claimed there was “never enough evidence to lay the most serious charge of murder on Constable Rolfe”.
“Our members including Constable Rolfe, the family of Kumanjayi Walker, the community of Yuendumu and the entire community deserve the truth in an open and transparent manner,” he said.
“Why were the concerns of senior investigators being set aside regarding the speed in which charges were being considered against Constable Rolfe?
“It is plainly obvious … that critical decisions to arrest Constable Rolfe were made giving consideration to his desired movements to Canberra, rather than based on evidence.”
Mr McCue was highly critical of a statement made by the Chief Minister three days after the shooting.
But Chief Minister Michael Gunner said his address to the mourning community in Yuendumu in the wake of the shooting was being twisted out of context.
Mr Gunner said his calls that “consequences will flow” was in specific reference to the coronial inquest, and not any criminal investigation.
“Because the coroner is independent, even I can’t tell the coroner to do that, but I know the coroner will listen to you,” Mr Gunner told the Yuendumu community on November 12, 2019.
“The coroner will seek to answer those questions you have, those questions I have – what happened, what happened that night and why, so justice can be done.
“I can promise you that investigation will be independent and consequences will flow as a result.”
More than 850 days after making that statement, Mr Gunner said those words still held true.
“There has been deliberate and irresponsible misinterpretation of my words from that day,” Mr Gunner said.
“This has inflamed an already tragic situation.”
Mr Gunner said the independence of the justice system was critical “both in deed and in perception”.
Mr Gunner said he played no role in the investigations that led to Zach Rolfe being charged with murder.
He said the NTPA had “conceded” that he was not involved in political interference, however Mr McCue said the perception of bias was rife surrounding the Rolfe investigations.
He said the visit and statements from the Chief Minister were “irresponsible, if not clumsy”.
“The attendance of Chief Minister Michael Gunner and the Minister for Police Nicole Manison was a catastrophe and should never have occurred,” Mr McCue said.
“It does not matter in what respect whose decision that was nor the motivations behind that visit but in this case, perception is reality. Political interference was alive.
“The Chief Minister’s comment that day, before an emotionally charged audience that day, was irresponsible, if not clumsy and one which let down the police and the community of Yuendumu.
“(He) fanned the flames of expectation among those standing before him in Yuendumu, many of whom knew nothing of the facts of what took place. He let down those community members, and the members of the police force.”
But Mr McCue said Mr Gunner was not involved in the decision to charge Constable Rolfe.
“There were obviously Senior Executive police officers involved in that discussion. They would have gone to the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) to discuss what evidence they did have at that time.
“There’s no suggestion from my perspective that Mr Gunner was part of those discussions.”
Mr McCue said the person ultimately responsible was the person overseeing the investigation.
“There’s more to play out in terms of that discussion,” he said.
Opposition leader Ms Finocchiaro said Mr Gunner has “serious questions” to answer over perceived “political interference” leading up to charges being laid.
Ms Finocchiaro criticised the Chief Minister’s visit to Yuendumu after the shooting.
“I would not have travelled to Yuendumu and promised consequences would flow,” she said.
“I think the Chief Minister has made a (terrible) mistake in doing that and it’s set a course of a chain of events.
“I don’t know if the Chief Minister has flown back down to Yuendumu after the trial and explained why consequences aren’t flowing.”
A NT Court spokesman said a three-month coronial inquest presided by Judge Elisabeth Armitage was likely to run in September and be based in Alice Springs and Yuendumu.
INITIAL: POLITICAL interference was “alive” when Constable Zach Rolfe was charged with the murder of Kumanjayi Walker in 2019, the president of the NT Police Association has accused.
On Monday the union’s president Paul McCue said following the end of the trial, evidence discussed showed there was “never enough evidence to lay the most serious charge of murder on Constable Rolfe”.
“Our members including Constable Rolfe, the family of Kumanjayi Walker, the community of Yuendumu and the entire community deserve the truth in an open and transparent manner,” he said.
“Why were the concerns of senior investigators being set aside regarding the speed in which charges were being considered against Constable Rolfe?
“It is plainly obvious … that critical decisions to arrest Constable Rolfe were made giving consideration to his desired movements to Canberra, rather than based on evidence.”
Mr McCue called out Chief Minister Michael Gunner for comments made following the shooting.
The Chief Minister’s office has been contacted for comment.
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Originally published as Chief Minister Michael Gunner defends saying ‘consequences will flow’
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