Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker steps down after Supreme Court bid resolved

Jamie Chalker has officially departed his role as NT Police Commissioner, with his Supreme Court bid against the Territory government resolved.

NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker has reached a “confidential” settlement with the NT government, marking the end of his tenure. Picture: Glenn Campbell

The Chief Minister has refused to comment on the sum of embattled Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker’s settlement, saying the matter is confidential.

Mr Chalker has officially stepped down as Police Commissioner following a lengthy dispute and court challenge against the Territory government.

Natasha Fyles’s office confirmed on Sunday morning Mr Chalker had retired and Supreme Court proceedings had been resolved.

“I certainly hear the frustrations that people have felt that I’ve been repetitive over the last few weeks and around the matter being settled in a confidential nature,” Ms Fyles said on Sunday.

“But I always act in the best interest of the Territorians and also very respectful to taxpayer dollars.

“Mr Chalker was entitled to a number of financial matters and all of that has been settled.

“Although I have been involved, in terms of the financial matters they have been at arm’s length from me as Chief Minister so that we can make sure that we’re meeting government’s guidelines around those types of matters.

“We’d like to thank him and acknowledge his service.”

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has confirmed Mr Chalker's settlement included entitlement to a "number of financial matters". Picture: Annabel Bowles

A government statement said the Administrator Hugh Heggie had accepted Mr Chalker’s application to retire from his role as Police Commissioner and Fire and Emergency Services chief executive.

It also said both parties would not make any further comment “concerning the terms of his retirement and the settlement” of the court proceedings as they were both bound by confidentiality agreements.

It comes three weeks after Mr Chalker’s high-profile lawyers issued a statement saying the Commissioner had always intended to see out the full term of his contract, as well as “seek a renewal of that contract”.

His contract was due to end in November this year.

Sky News first revealed the Territory government had asked Mr Chalker to resign on April 1, indicating they had lost confidence in him.

Mr Chalker was on pre-approved Easter leave at the time and due to return April 19.

He launched legal action against Ms Fyles and Police Minister Kate Worden to restrain them from recommending Mr Heggie remove him from his post.

The settlement comes a day before Mr Chalker’s lawyers were due to file evidence in the Supreme Court. Picture: Pema Tamang

The lawsuit sought an order compelling Ms Fyles to provide particulars of “four allegations” made in a letter Mr Chalker received on March 31, which the court heard included a claim he had “asked the Australian Defence Force to go into Alice Springs”.

His barrister Arthur Moses SC told the court it was now conceded the allegation was wrong and may have “meant to refer to the federal police”, although that was also in dispute.

The dispute was headed for trial in the civil division in the Supreme Court where his lawyers intended to cross examine both Ms Fyles and Ms Worden.
However the statement issued on Sunday confirmed the settlement had been reached.

“It has been a tremendous privilege to have worked amongst the brave, hardworking women and men of the NT Police Force, Fire and Rescue Service, and Emergency Services, and an honour to have led them as they have tirelessly devoted their lives to making the Territory a better place,” Mr Chalker said in the government-issued statement.

“I want to wish all of my colleagues the very best in the future and thank them for their ongoing dedication to all Territorians.

“Personally, I am looking forward to the next chapter of my career and the opportunities that await.”

The statement said the government was “grateful” for Mr Chalker’s three and-a-half years of service in the role and “wishes him well in the next phase of his career”.

Mr Chalker served as a Territory police officer for 25 years and was also the Department of Local Government, Housing and Community Development chief executive.

Deputy Commissioner Michael Murphy remains acting in the position.

Ms Fyles said a national recruitment process would start to fill the role.

“We would like to have the recruitment done as efficiently as possible, but we do need to allow for due process to take place,” she said.

“These executive positions do tend to take a few months (to fill) but we’ll make sure that everything is shared with the public and particularly that the police force understand the process going forward.”

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Originally published as Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker steps down after Supreme Court bid resolved