Estimates latest: Police Commissioner hits back at ‘disgusting’ commentary

Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker has told Estimates he is unable to ‘correct the record’ on various reports about his leadership due to internal policies.

POLICE Commissioner Jamie Chalker has hit out at “commentary that is nothing short of disgusting” during Budget Estimates and said he had been unable to correct the record because of “a number of processes”.

Mr Chalker has faced votes of no confidence by nine regional branches of the NT Police Association amid high levels of attrition.

He also faced criticism after refusing to answer questions on the day Constable Zach Rolfe was found not guilty of murdering Kumanjayi Walker in Yendumu in 2019.

On the day the verdict was handed down, Mr Chalker was questioned about the decision to charge Const Rolfe with murder.

More recently, he has copped criticism for remarks some have seen as insensitive, particularly in regards to the ongoing crisis of mental health in the ranks of the police force.

NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker refused to answer questions on the day of the Rolfe trial. Picture: Glenn Campbell

During Budget Estimates on Monday, Mr Chalker said rhetoric around his leadership of the NT Police had been “difficult and frustrating”, particularly in relation to the Rolfe trial.

“The criminal trial was very prominent,” he told the Committee.

“Again, under much criticism, but following the legal advice I received, I said all that I could say.

“If you have all been reading the media and it sounds like you all have, then you know that some of the commentary has been nothing short of disgusting, has not been factual, has been deliberately targeted to cause harm.”

When pressured to say what she would change to restore morale and confidence in the police executive, a defiant Police Minister Kate Worden repeatedly refused to answer.

“In a three-week window, you want me to tell you exactly how I’m going to turn everything around?” Ms Worden said.

Mr Chalker said he knew people who had been “emotionally impacted” by rhetoric around management of the NT Police.

“I’m very proud of this police force, I’m very proud of this agency more generally,” he said.

At another stage in Estimates, Mr Chalker said attrition in the NT Police was 8.81 per cent in the nine months to March 31, up slightly. But he said recruitment had stayed above attrition.

Reacting to the revelations in Estimates, Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro said there was a crisis in attrition, health, wellbeing and morale within NT Police.

“I think the Commissioner’s comments show how great that divide is between rank and file and the executive,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

She called on the NT government to support parliamentary select committees to look into these issues, lashing Police Minister Kate Worden for not supporting them.

Police report ready in March: Chalker

A REPORT into how police tackle chronic mental health was finalised in March, Estimates heard on Monday

In the same sittings, Police Minister Kate Worden tried to shut down questions from the CLP over the standing Mr Chalker.

Ms Worden told Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro to “go and work for the media”, vowing to deny her a “gotcha moment”.

In response, Ms Finocchiaro said she “won’t be abandoning my questions to suit what you would like to talk about today”.

When questioned about nine branches of the NT Police Association giving no confidence motions in Mr Chalker, a defensive Ms Worden argued: “I’m not coming into Budget Estimates to talk about my discussions with the NTPA”.

She said she had had meetings with the NT Police Association (NTPA) in her first three weeks of being Police Minister.

Earlier, Mr Chalker said the report into mental health of the police ranks had been completed in March this year and work was now being done to prepare it for a Cabinet briefing.

The Commissioner said the findings of the report would require legislation to be debated in parliament, as some of the recommendations would need increases in staffing and funding to be implemented.

“There’s a significant amount of reform that the recommendations do allude to, which are both internally and structurally relevant as to what we need to do,” Mr Chalker said.

Ms Worden said she had read the report.

“I’ll be working intensively with the commissioner to make sure that the findings of that report are implemented,” she said.

CLP refuses to endorse Police Commissioner

THE CLP shied away from endorsing Mr Chalker to continue as Police Commissioner, ahead of a looming Estimates grilling next week.

Speaking on Friday afternoon after the release of shocking crime rate statistics, the CLP’s Josh Burgoyne refused to give glowing praise of Mr Chalker.

It comes amid a rebellion against Mr Chalker in some sub-branches of the NTPA.

In addition to the CLP, Blain MLA and former police officer Mark Turner is expected to join the interrogation of Mr Chalker.

The Police Commissioner has come under fire in recent months over the provision of mental health services to current and former officers.

The CLP’s Member for Braitling Josh Burgoyne has refused to endorse Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker.

Mr Burgoyne said the CLP would seek answers as to how police were dealing with these issues.

He said it was important “for the people on the ground to feel supported by their top brass”.

“Obviously, currently, the NT Police Association is conducting their reviews, they’re going from station to station.

“I think when it comes to these issues, it’s so important to actually get what members of the police force are dealing with, how they feel in regards to what is occuring.”

Mr Burgoyne said he had “lots of police” in his electorate of Braitling raise concerns with him.

“But I certainly won’t be making any negative comments about the commissioner,” he said.

Follow @thomasmorgan22