NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy’s replacement will be a long drawn out saga

Michael Murphy’s acting replacement in the role could be there for sometime. Read why.

The Northern Territory could be without a permanent police commissioner for an indefinite period as the Government deals with fallout from the job for a mate scandal.

Answering questions on Sunday afternoon, less than 24-hours after her government announced Mr Murphy had lost the confidence of the CLP Government, Ms Finocchiaro refused to be drawn on when a new permanent police commissioner would be appointed.

“This is not a recruitment process,” she said.

“This is the start of a termination process, and that’s very, very different, and that’s the process I’m focused on.

“What we know is that there is a process for termination and that has to commence, and it starts with natural justice and moves through a cabinet process, an executive council process and ultimately ends in a recommendation to the Administrator.”

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro and Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

She also declined to say whether her government would look interstate for Mr Murphy’s permanent replacement.

Mr Murphy, who is on leave while his termination from the role is finalised, is entitled to six-months remuneration on his salary, estimated to be around $400,000.

Ms Finocchiaro said she did not ask Mr Murphy to resign his commission with the NT Police.

“I have not asked for Commissioner Murphy’s resignation,” she said.

“I’ve given him the opportunity to resign, which he has not taken up.

“As a result, I now have taken those important steps to begin the process of termination.”

Ms Finocchiaro said Martin Dole, who has been appointed acting Police Commissioner to replace Mr Murphy, would be in the job for the “foreseeable future”.

“This is a very serious matter, dealing with the process of termination of a police commissioner, and ultimately, by having the acting commissioner in place, Mr Dole, it provides certainty and continuity for our police, which is my most pressing and important concern.”

If a swift resolution is not found, Mr Murphy could join ICAC commissioner Michael Riches on the long-term leave list.

Acting NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole. Picture: Alex Treacy

On an estimated annual salary of about $500,000, Mr Riches stepped aside from the role last June while on full pay.

Ms Finocchiaro acknowledged community frustration at aspects of the ICAC process, that meant she could have breached the government’s own act if she had identified Mr Murphy.

The ICAC released a two-page statement on February 28 outlining incidents of “negligence and incompetence” in the recruitment of a senior NT Police officer.

Mr Murphy waited almost a week before identifying himself as the “public official” at the centre of the ICAC storm while the NT Government initially tried deflecting responsibility, before eventually going to ground all-together on Friday.

“I’ve outlined very clearly that there is a process ahead of us, and at times that’s going to cause frustration to the community around what and how much detail can be provided to the community at certain times, but I make no apologies for that,” she said.

“I did immediately write to the CEO of chief minister and cabinet, asking him to work closely with the commissioner for public employment to make sure our process is right across government, across every layer for recruitment and every agency is strong.

“And I also wrote to Michael Murphy expressing my great disappointment at the findings, obviously by the ICAC.”

Ms Finocchiaro pledged to reform ICAC, which she said had so far cost Territorians $35m since it was launched in 2018.

“We will get to the matter of the ICAC, because it’s very important that we have strong integrity systems here in the Northern Territory.”

Originally published as NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy’s replacement will be a long drawn out saga