Lambley refers Potter to ICAC after Burgoyne comments
The Police Minister has been referred to the corruption commission for comments he made about an Opposition Member. See who’s referred him, and why.
Northern Territory
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Police Minister Brent Potter has been referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption over comments he made about an ongoing police investigation into an opposition MLA.
On Friday Mr Potter addressed media where he made a series of assertions about a police investigation into an Alice Springs car crash involving Braitling MLA Josh Burgoyne.
Independent Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley said the ICAC referral was made on Monday and that she had forwarded a copy to Police Commissioner Michael Murphy.
Ms Lambley signalled she might refer Attorney-General Chansey Paech to ICAC as well for an interview he conducted on Darwin radio on Friday morning.
“I read about (Potter’s) press conference on Friday morning and saw excerpts on TV from his press conference and I am concerned he speculated and pre-empted the outcome of the police investigation involving Josh Burgoyne,” Ms Lambley said.
“Members of parliament, particularly ministers, know you don’t comment on ongoing police inquiries and court cases. What people witnessed from Brent Potter on Friday was a breach of that.
“He inserted himself into commentary on what may or may not happen to Josh Burgoyne, who hadn’t been charged. It was a police investigation. I am concerned Brent Potter tried to influence the outcome of the police investigation into Josh Burgoyne and that may or may not constitute perverting the course of justice.
“As Minister for Police he needs to understand separation of powers and what it means and his expectations as a minister in respecting those separations. What I saw on Friday was concerning enough to make a referral.
“Brent Potter has embarrassed himself and demonstrate a lack of respect and understanding in his role as Minister and him saying what he said about Josh Burgoyne could contaminate the entire court case.”
Ms Lambley said she would access Attorney-General Chansey Paech’s full Friday morning interview with Mix 104.9 journalist Katie Woolf before deciding whether to refer him to the ICAC.
Mr Potter denied he reflected on Mr Burgoyne’s guilt or otherwise.
“On Friday February 16 I held a media event to announce a new police management system, and on Monday February 19 I held a media event regarding the Bombing of Darwin, at both of these events journalists asked questions in relation to Mr Burgoyne because the Leader of the Opposition has refused to answer questions as to why this incidents was hidden from Territorians for six months,” he said.
“At no point did I reflect on whether Mr Burgoyne was guilty or innocent during either of these media events.”
- The bullet point summary was created with the assistance of AI technology (PaLM2) then edited and approved for publication by an editor.
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