NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy finally outs himself in ICAC ‘jobs for mates’ scandal
The Northern Territory's most senior cop, Police Commissioner Michael Murphy, has admitted he is the mystery senior bureaucrat at the centre of a damning ‘jobs for mates’ scandal exposed by the independent Commissioner Against Corruption.
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The Northern Terrioty’s most senior cop, Police Commissioner Michael Murphy, has admitted he is the mystery senior bureaucrat at the centre of a damning ‘jobs for mates’ scandal exposed by the independent Commissioner Against Corruption.
After days of hiding from the public his identity, Police Commissioner Murphy chose to own up to his improper conduct, by way of a statement rather than front the media.
On Friday an independent Commissioner Against Corruption delegate Patricia Kelly confirmed an investigation into the recruitment process involving an unnamed senior executive public officer had uncovered “improper conduct”.
Ms Kelly said the senior officer had been found to have “unsatisfactory conduct” in the management of their conflicts of interest, calling it ‘negligent’ and ‘incompetent’.
Her investigation did not name the individuals involved, but after days of increasing pressure on the NT Government the Police Commissioner has come forward.
On Thursday Mr Murphy finally went public and accepted responsibility for his conduct, confirming he was the unnamed senior executive public officer who failed to recuse himself as the chair of a recruitment process where a close friend was a candidate.
“I accept that I should have dealt better with a conflict of interest, a friendship and a referee report in relation to an appointee,” he said.
“On reflection, I should have managed the friendship and the conflict of interest to a higher standard and on at least one occasion should have recused myself from the appointment process in order to ensure community confidence.”
The ICAC report found that the public servant, who Police Commissioner Murphy has admitted was him, verbally declared to other panel members that there was a “friendship”, but did not to provide the “particulars” and extent of that relationship.
There is no suggestion the unnamed staffer involved was not qualified for the position.
She found that the unnamed senior officer was a referee for his friend and sent him his previous job application – which was not provided to other candidates.
Ms Kelly called said his actions involved “negligence and incompetence”, and were an inappropriate use of public resources for the recruitment process.
The Northern Territory Police force were questioned on Monday about Mr Murphy’s involvement in the ‘job for a mate’ scandal.
However the police refused to comment on the findings of the report.
“NT Police do not comment on ICAC investigations,” a spokesman said.
“Any questions about ICAC investigations should be referred to the ICAC.”
It comes hours after Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the scandal exposed in the ICAC report was “disappointing and falls well short of the expectations the community places on the public service”.
Ms Finocchiaro said she wrote to the Chief Executive of the Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet to work with the Public Employment Commissioner to ensure appropriate conflict of interest management and recruitment policies were in place.
As both the Chief Minister and Police Minister, Ms Finocchiaro has borne the brunt of criticism over a failure to identify the senior public servant, which she claimed she was restricted from releasing.
“I share the same frustrations as the community surrounding this whole situation,” she said.
Ms Finocchiaro also appeared to signal a reform agenda for the ICAC office “to give confidence … that the Territory’s integrity functions are fit for purpose”.
On Thursday Mr Murphy said he had accepted the two recommendations made by the ICAC and have commenced the process of implementing them.
However he has not revealed what the recommendations were.
“I am committed to developing a clear written policy position for police executive recruitments, and to developing an education and training program for all members that gives clear guidance for the identification, disclosure and management of conflicts of interest,” he said.
“Among other things, this will deal with issues relating to conflicts of interest.
“I have instructed that these policy positions be implemented as a priority so that the guidance applies to any future appointments.”
On Thursday, ICAC was asked to clarify what the two recommendations to the police were, but said “the Office of the ICAC makes no comment on the public statement”.
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