CLP condemn Police Commissioner’s letter as a step ‘towards a dictatorship‘

The NT has been accused of edging closer to a dictatorship following a leaked letter from Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker. SEE THE FULL LETTER HERE.

UPDATE, WED FEB 9: THE NT Government has been accused of edging closer to a dictatorship following a leaked letter from Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker.

CLP Opposition Aboriginal Affairs spokesman Steve Edgington condemned the letter, which accused some Central Australia community groups of “mischief” and asked them to refrain from speaking to media or their local members until they “elevate” their concerns with the Local Emergency Controller.

The Barkly MP said he understood why Territorians were alarmed, suspicious and concerned about the impacts of Covid and the supply-chain issues impacting regional and remote parts of the NT.

“This correspondence was clearly designed to intimidate and dissuade the public from expressing or sharing their concerns,” Mr Edgington said.

“The Gunner Government has seemingly moved one step closer towards a dictatorship after its extraordinary attack on the democratic rights of Territorians.”

He also hit back at attempts to “shift the blame onto Territorians” for communication issues around emergency management arrangements.

Mr Edgington called the letter “outrageous” and called for more transparency around the Covid outbreak from the NT Government.

“People want accurate information so they can make decisions about their own health, safety and wellbeing. Not only do Territorians want to know this information, they have a right to know,” he said.

“If we truly are in this together, please start being open and honest, by sharing information with all Territorians or don’t expect them to keep giving information to you.”

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Michael Gunner questioned the Police Commissioner’s letter, telling the ABC he would have “phrased it differently”.

“I certainly know, as a politician, you never say to someone ‘Don’t go to the media,” he said.

“People will always talk to the media and always talk to their local member. That’s a fruitless request.’

“Local members are always open and available for constituents to talk to.”

But Mr Gunner said he still had trust in his Police Commissioner.

INITIAL, TUES FEB 8: NT POLICE Commissioner Jamie Chalker has attempted to silence local community groups with a letter advising them to “elevate” issues with the Local Emergency Controller and refrain from speaking to media or their local members.

In a letter obtained by the NT News, Mr Chalker asked emergency stakeholders to not raise their concerns with other groups outside his chain of command.

“It is not appropriate that matters are raised by the media or local members without you having presented them through the appropriate channel,” the letter sent on February 3 said.

In the letter Mr Chalker also accused community groups, including Indigenous organisations, of creating mischief and urged against calling for Commonwealth support with ‘finite resources’.

“I need your support to stop the mischief and be part of the system that aims to serve and protect the NT community,” Mr Chalker’s letter said.

“Your role is to identify the problem and, if outside of your remit to rectify, elevate to the Local Emergency Controller.

“Advise us of the issue and allow us to work with you on a solution commensurate with the true status of what the emergency really constitutes.

“It is not appropriate that matters are raised by the media or local members without you having presented them through the appropriate channel.”

However, one local community group, who wished to remain anonymous, said they felt their role was to advocate for community when the local chain of command was failing.

“Things were not happening and we were providing a response that should have been the government’s … we also have a role to advocate for our people and that meant going to media,” a source said

In late January Aboriginal leaders wrote an open letter to Chief Minister Michael Gunner calling for an urgent lockdown of Central Australia, along with a number of other Covid suppression measures.

Central Land Council, Central Australian Aboriginal Congress and Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory had warned the government of “catastrophic failures” and warned urgent action was needed to stop a “tsunami of Covid cases”.

At the time the Police Commissioner responded by accusing “certain groups” of pushing the “catastrophisation” of Covid.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner has questioned the Police Commissioner’s letter, telling the ABC he would have “phrased it differently”.

“I certainly know, as a politician, you never say to someone ‘Don’t go to the media,” he said.

“People will always talk to the media and always talk to their local member. That’s a fruitless request.’

“Local members are always open and available for constituents to talk to.”

However Mr Gunner did not completely distance himself from the comments from Mr Chalker.

“I think at the core of it he very simply saying ‘Please work with me to get these things sorted’.”

“Obviously the Police Commission has a frustration, for me it’s simply that we’re in an emergency … we know how these things work and we just want people to back their locals, local police and others on the ground who know what’s going on,” Mr Gunner said.

“I want people to work through the chains of command.

“We’ve got the big picture.”

Mr Gunner said he still had trust in his Police Commissioner.

“We are in an emergency, he’s done an outstanding job, I just think that the letter reflects the frustrations when people are dragged away from core duties to respond to things that sometimes have been taken through the proper chain of command.”

SEE THE FULL LETTER HERE