Jamie Chalker urged to apologise or step down as chief executive of NT Fire and Rescue
A large group of firefighters and their supporters turned out in the Darwin CBD calling for the resignation of Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker.
Northern Territory
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UPDATE June 3rd: A LARGE group of firefighters and their supporters turned out in the Darwin CBD calling for the resignation of Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker.
At least 40 people attended a protest outside the NAB Building, where NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services is based.
The heated protest is in reaction to comments Mr Chalker was alleged to have said on April 20, where he described Territory firefighters as “greedy”.
The protestors carried signs saying “Chalker can walk!” and “Shame on Spain” as protestors showed their disapproval for the alleged comments.
INTIAL: JAMIE Chalker is being urged to apologise or resign as chief executive of the NT Fire and Rescue Service, after being accused of describing Territory fire fighters as “greedy”.
A letter from the United Workers Union NT to Mr Chalker said on April 20, the Police Commissioner addressed firefighter recruit squad 46 and allegedly made “out-of-place” and “unnecessary” comments.
“We have been advised … You advised the recruits of the significant amount of overtime being worked by firefighters and noted that the Northern Territory’s fire fighters ‘are all greedy’,” the letter, signed by branch secretary Erina Early, said.
“You advised recruits to choose the right path and ‘not be greedy like the others.’”
The NT News understands Mr Chalker addressed 12 recruits. Chief Fire Officer Mark Spain and Assistant Chief Fire Officer Joshua Fischer were also present.
It ended with the union asking Mr Chalker to respond by close of business June 2 with an apology and commitment to repairing his relationship with firefighters, or his resignation as chief executive of NT Fire and Rescue.
“The Union has been instructed by its members that you no longer have their trust,” the letter said.
The NT News sent questions to NT PFES Media asking if Mr Chalker addressed the recruits on April 20; if he made the comments claimed by the union; if not, why he was being accused of making these comments, and if he had responded to the union’s letter.
They did not respond to the questions but invited the NT News and other media to watch recordings of Mr Chalker’s speech.
They did not send any video footage of the speech, only allowing recording of the audio.
The recordings were snippets of Mr Chalker’s speech and were of poor audio quality and it is not clear whether the audio records the entirety of Mr Chalker’s comments.
Mr Chalker can be heard addressing recruits on a variety of topics such as workload, overtime, training and not being bullied or harassed by union representatives.
In a statement to ABC Darwin, an NT PFES spokesman said Mr Chalker did not make the alleged comments.
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