NT Chief Minister seeking ‘advice’, while ministers refuse to confirm if ‘jobs for mates’ scandal occurred within their departments

The Territory government has put up a wall of silence after the corruption watchdog revealed a ‘job for a mates’ scheme at the highest levels of the senior public service.

On Sunday Lia Finocchiaro confirmed she was seeking advice from her Chief Minister and Cabinet chief executive following the ICAC report. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The Territory government has put up a wall of silence after the corruption watchdog revealed a ‘job for a mate’ scheme at the highest levels of the senior public service.

On Friday the NT Independent Commission Against Corruption released a report stating that an unnamed senior executive public officer had failed to disclose the full extent of their friendship with a candidate, despite remaining on the recruitment panel and providing them with a reference.

ICAC delegate Patricia Kelly said ‘Operation Apollo’ found the senior public servant had committed “unsatisfactory conduct” in the management of their conflicts of interest, calling it ‘negligent’ and ‘incompetent’.

Ms Kelly said while the senior government worker verbally declared to other panel members that there was a “friendship”, they failed to provide the “particulars” and extent of that relationship.

“(They) ought to have recused themself from the recruitment process,” Ms Kelly found.

Ms Kelly said she was unable to reveal their identities under Section 55 of the act as the conduct only amounted to unsatisfactory conduct.

Section 55 of the Act sets out when the ICAC can make a public statement, who it can make the statement too and what can’t be included in the public statement.

The section only applies to statements made by the ICAC, yet every single Territory Minister cited the section 55 clause to the NT News when refusing to answer questions about the scandal.

The Public Employment Commissioner was asked about the implementation of the ICAC’s recommendations, and if the appointment of the candidate would be reviewed.

However on Monday, the commissioner’s office directed all questions to the Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet.

NT chief minister Lia Finocchiaro has refused to answer questions relating to the ICAC report into the ‘job for a mate’ scandal. Photo: Liam Mendes / The Australian

On Sunday Lia Finocchiaro confirmed she was seeking advice from her Chief Minister and Cabinet chief executive, Luccio Cercarelli to inquire about “actions being taken to ensure public sector leaders uphold proper conflict management and recruitment practices”.

“This is disappointing and falls well short of the expectations the community places on the public service, especially leaders within the public service,” she said.

Despite appearing to be the only Minister tasked with responding to the abuse of office investigation, Ms Finocchario has refused to confirm that the investigation relates to a senior executive from her portfolios, as the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Defence NT or the Territory Coordinator.

When the NT News approached the Chief Minister to confirm the identity of the public servant, a spokeswoman for Ms Finocchiaro’s office claimed that even “sending emails alleging the identity” of the person involved “may constitute a breach” of the ICAC Act.

“The ICAC Act restricts public disclosure of individuals found to have engaged in improper conduct — specifically, unsatisfactory conduct related to the mismanagement of a conflict of interest — rather than those found to be corrupt,” she said.

On Monday afternoon, Ms Finocchario did not deny that the report involved a senior public servant under her portfolio.

“I have been advised by both the ICAC and the Solicitor-General that I cannot identify the senior executive public officer,” she said.

“Further questions on Operation Apollo should be directed to the ICAC.”

Ms Kelly has already stated that “I cannot and do not intend to comment any further”.

The NT News reached out to every Minister, with Bill Yan, Marie-Clare Boothby, Steve Edgington, Joshua Burgoyne, Robyn Cahill, Jo Hersey and Jinson Charls all similarly claiming they were unable to confirm the investigation did not relate to their portfolios.

Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley said he was not across the ICAC report and trusted that Ms Finocchario was “handling that situation as required”. Picture: Gera Kazakov

The only minister to implicitly deny this occurred under his leadership was Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley, who said he was not across the ICAC report and trusted that Ms Finocchario was “handling that situation as required”.

“I understand that the Chief Minister has sought some advice in relation to that. I haven’t personally spoken to the Chief Minister, so I’m sure the chief minister is handling that situation as required,” Mr Maley said on Monday.

“She will do a proper job to make sure she acts in the best interests of all Territorians.”

Mr Maley was asked if this was behaviour he would condone from any senior executives in his portfolios, as the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Mining and Energy, Corrections, Renewables and Recreational Fishing.

“It’s difficult to stand here and play hypothetical situations,” he said.

Ms Hersey — the minister Education and Training, Early Education, and the Public Service — similarly said she would “not speculate on hypothetical scenarios” when asked if this was behaviour she would accept under her leadership.

Originally published as NT Chief Minister seeking ‘advice’, while ministers refuse to confirm if ‘jobs for mates’ scandal occurred within their departments