NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy resigns NTPA union membership after Garma apology
The NT’s Police Commissioner has resigned his union membership after he was left ‘disappointed’ by the NTPA’s reaction to his historic apology at Garma. Now, the Chief Minister has weighed in.
Northern Territory
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August 6: The Territory’s Police Commissioner has resigned his union membership after feeling “disappointed” by the association’s response to a historic apology at Garma Festival.
Michael Murphy on Saturday apologised to Indigenous Territorians for harms and injustices caused by the force over the past 154 years of policing.
On Monday evening, Commissioner Murphy said the Northern Territory Police Association should be “strong” and “representative” of its members but had failed its mission when it reacted to his speech.
“I love policing. I know you do too, and I am proud to be your Commissioner,” he said in a statement.
“I have a vision for the future of NT Police; and in order to achieve that future, we need to be able to understand and acknowledge our history.
“Our shared mission is to serve and protect all Territorians.”
Chief Minister Eva Lawler on Tuesday said Commissioner Murphy’s decision to publicly apologise at Garma was not influenced by the NT government.
“I don’t think it’s got anything to do with politics at all,” Ms Lawler said.
“I think it’s the actual opposite – I think would be seen as politicised if I’d been in Garma and I’d been standing beside the Commissioner.
Ms Lawler defended the top cop’s decision and said the rest of the police force would “fall in behind him”.
“His leadership is underpinned by his values, and his values and his leadership are about making sure that we have a police force that’s well-respected by the Indigenous community across the Northern Territory,” she said.
Ms Lawler said she believed his historic apology would not isolate him from his peers.
She questioned how the speech’s intent could have been consulted on.
“’Should we not have racism in the police force?’ Is that how you consult around this issue? What do you want from consultation?
“We do not want to have racism in any Northern Territory government agency or institution. “We need to work together in the Territory to address the issue of racism, we need to work together to better the lives of some of our most vulnerable people.”
It comes after NTPA acting president Lisa Bayliss on Saturday said she was disappointed Commissioner Murphy did not share the content or intent of his speech with the union before its delivery.
“In fact, the speech in its entirety was sent to the media before the membership, Ms Bayliss said.
She said it was not the role of police to assess the “success or otherwise” of Closing the Gap initiatives.
Ms Bayliss said the Commissioner’s focus should not only be on Indigenous members of the public, but also on the wellbeing and development of police members.
“This includes providing Indigenous employees within the NTP with opportunities to advance as far as they aspire within the organisation,” she said.
“Currently, members of the NTP employed as Aboriginal Community Police Officers can only progress to the rank of Senior ACPO – if they wish to advance further, they must wait for a transition squad, or resign their position and apply as a recruit constable, as there is no existing ACPO to Constable transition career pathway.
“The NT Police Association calls upon the Commissioner to address this gap by immediately implementing an ACPO to Constable transition career pathway.”
Politician reacts to NT Police Commissioner’s racism apology
August 5: Police Commissioner Michael Murphy’s apology to Aboriginal people for “past harms and injustices” caused in the Northern Territory by the force over 154 years was “political” and an empty “motherhood” statement, an independent Territory politician claims.
Independent MLA Robyn Lambley on Sunday said had the Commissioner been serious about delivering an unequivocal apology to all Territory Aboriginal people, he would have publicly flagged its delivery in advance and not limited the apology to Garma Festival.
Ms Lambley said the annual cultural festival, held by the Yothu Yindi Foundation to celebrate Yolgnu culture, had become “a ridiculous display of patronising political rhetoric and pantomime”.
“Politicians and political apparatchiks lining up in their droves pledging their commitment and apologies to Aboriginal people,” she said.
“The theatre and ceremony of this star-studded, red carpet glamping experience obviously impresses a lot of people, mostly from outside of the NT I dare say. With the situation on the ground getting worse for Territory Aboriginal people – it is hard to take any of this very seriously.
“I am astounded that the NT Police Commissioner has got on the bandwagon. Motherhood statements, platitudes and empty promises from our top cop is the last thing any of us need. Apologising for ‘harms and injustice’ caused by the NT Police “over the last 154 years. Can he ever be taken seriously again?
“A NT Police Commissioner apologising for things that happened from 1870 to 2024. Is that kindness or stupidity? It is definitely political, just three weeks out from a NT election.
“Was he told to head to Garma by the embattled NT Labor government to win the hearts and minds of black voters? We will never know. But if I were a NT Aboriginal voter I think I would be completely over this symbolic, offensive nonsense.”
Chief Minister Eva Lawler in response to Ms Lambley’s comments said Mr Murphy had spoken without political prompting.
Northern Territory Police Association acting president Lisa Bayliss acknowledged the apology speech but said it was “disappointing” Mr Murphy did not first consult with the force’s membership.
“It is disappointing the commissioner did not communicate the content, and intent, directly with the membership well in advance of his speech,,” Ms Bayliss said. “In fact, the speech in its entirety was sent to the media before the membership.
“It is also not the role of police to assess the success or otherwise of federal government-directed policies of Closing The Gap, the Stolen Generation and the Intervention, as the commissioner has done.”
Ms Bayliss said the Commissioner should focus on providing Indigenous employees within the NTP with career pathways out of community policing into the force.
“The NT Police Association calls upon the Commissioner to address this gap by immediately implementing an ACPO to Constable transition career pathway.”
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