Tough on crime politics expected to dominate 2024 election, amid falling trust in cops
The 2024 election is expected to be dominated by a tough on crime rhetoric, as the Territory enters the new year with fresh police leadership, minister and union head.
Police & Courts
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Tough on crime politics is expected to dominate debates ahead of the 2024 Territory election, with the heartbreaks and scandals of the past 12 months likely to feature heavily in the campaign for office.
Yet the NT is entering 2024 with a completely new police leadership, with the current Police Commissioner, union leader and minister all appointed in the past 12 months.
It comes as Territorians’ confidence in their cops has dropped to its lowest level in a decade, with two-fifths of the population feeling unsafe at night.
The 2022-23 NT Police Fire and Emergency Services annual report has revealed perceptions of safety, confidence in police and their professionalism have all reached record lows.
The National Survey of Community Satisfaction with Policing found only 60 per cent of Territorians reported feeling safe at night, below the target of 80 per cent.
JANUARY
CRIME SPIKE
The Alice Springs crime crisis reached its crescendo in January, with property crime rates doubling over the first 30 days of 2023.
There were 1163 property crimes reported to Alice Springs police that month —an average of 39 incidents a day, more than one an hour.
The previous month also saw a spike in violence, including alcohol and domestic violence related assaults.
Following calls from the Alice Springs Mayor Matt Paterson for urgent federal help, resulting in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese touching down in Central Australia.
MUM DISAPPEARS IN DESERT
Alice Springs Police hope somewhere in the 400sq km of desert shrub land and rolling red dirt there is a clue to finding a Darwin mum who vanished from the side of the highway.
Angie Fuller was last seen pulling up at a truck stop north of Alice Springs, around sunset on Monday, January 9.
Twelve hours later her red Toyota Corolla was discovered abandoned on Tanami Rd — with no sign of the Darwin mum.
It took more than 48 hours for her disappearance to be reported to police.
Ms Fuller became one of 171 people who vanished in the Territory, and among 2500 long term missing persons across Australia.
NT Police are treating her case as a potential homicide, with a $250,000 reward for any information about her disappearance.
FRIES AND FIREARMS
Two men were arrested in a dramatic undercover armed arrest in a Hungry Jack’s drive-through.
Footage of the fast food arrest at Coolalinga went viral, after witnesses filmed officers swarming around a blue ute dressed in high-vis, balaclavas with one wearing a ‘Centrelink’ singlet while pointing shotguns, handguns and tasers at the occupants of a ute.
The two men were charged with a range of offences including driving, drug, firearm, and property offences.
However family members of the man who faced down the barrel of a police gun were critical of the arrest, saying their actions at the busy-drive through was inappropriate.
“(Why did) they had to arrest them inside the Hungry Jack’s? I have no clue why they did that,” his cousin asked.
The two men are expected to return to court in 2024.
FEBRUARY
WALKER INQUEST
In February Elisabeth Armitage reopened the coronial inquest into the fatal police shooting of 19-year-old Warlpiri-Luritja man, Kumanjayi Walker, in Yuendumu in 2019.
The inquest has heard from a number of high profile police figures — with the notable exception was Constable Zack Rolfe who was acquitted on all charges related to the shooting in the Supreme Court.
Constable Rolfe refused to testify at the inquest, arguing it would expose him to internal police disciplinary proceedings.
This legal challenge was later dismissed by the Supreme Court.
The Walker inquest will continue to hold hearings into 2024.
STUDENT SHOPPING STOUSH
Students from six Darwin senior and middle schools were slapped with a 48-hour ban from entering Casuarina Square shopping centre after 100 or more teenagers were involved in fights at the complex.
The ban impacted students from Casuarina Senior College, Sanderson Middle School, Dripstone Middle School, Darwin Middle School, Darwin High School and Nightcliff Middle School.
This was not the only student ban of 2023, with more than 1100 students slapped with a month-long ban in March.
Casuarina Square management said the latest ban on Casuarina Senior College and Sanderson Middle School students was sparked by students fighting at the complex.
MARCH
BOTTLE WORKER DIES
“I love you mum, I’ve been stabbed.”
These words were the last text 20-year-old Declan Laverty was able to send to his mother after he was fatally stabbed at a Darwin bottle shop on Sunday evening.
Keith Kerinauia, 19, was charged with murder after an alleged incident with Mr Laverty, minutes before the worker was due to finish his shift at the Airport Tavern BWS.
The court has heard that every second of the alleged armed assault was captured by CCTV, and this would form the basis of Kerinauia’s self-defence plea in the Supreme Court in 2024.
Mr Laverty’s death sparked multiple anti-crime rallies and a flood of tough on crime policies and rhetoric from parliament.
ALLEGED RAPID CREEK BRAWL
Three people were charged after allegedly beating a 39-year-old into unconsciousness before leaving his bloodied body in a Darwin carpark.
Police have alleged up to 20 people witnessed the alleged brawl, with CCTV allegedly capturing footage of a group of assailants.
While three people were originally charged with recklessly and unlawfully endangering serious harm, aggravated assault, it took nine months for prosecutors to escalate murder charges against two people allegedly involved.
BIKIE CRACKDOWN
An 18-month anti-gang operation wrapped up in March, with police celebrating the arrest of 40 bikies including the Mongols motorcycle gang’s national president, local vice-president, and local sergeant-at-arms.
NT Police allege the crackdown, nicknamed Operation Morley, resulted in the seizure of 1.2kg of methamphetamine, 6.8kg of cannabis, 34 firearms, and more than $500,000 in cash.
Among the 140 charges laid against alleged Mongols members or associates were commercial drug supply, extortion, conspiring to pervert justice, recklessly endangering serious harm, aggravated assault, and unlawful use of motor vehicles.
APRIL
ESPLANADE ALLEGED STABBING
The federal Indigenous Minister comforted the family of a dying woman, who raced into a luxury hotel in Darwin after allegedly being stabbed by her partner.
Linda Burney witnessed firsthand the devastation of the Territory’s domestic violence crisis, after a 51-year-old woman ran into the Double Tree Hilton seeking refuge.
Ms Burney said she comforted the dying woman’s family, while her office staff joined hotel staff in aiding the victim before paramedics arrived.
A Double Tree Hilton staff member said the night-duty manager assisted the woman as she bled heavily following the alleged attack on the Esplanade.
Her family told The Australian that the 51-year-old Elaine Naroldol was a talented artist and basket weaver from the award-winning Injalak Arts centre, in Gunbalanya.
Her 56-year-old partner Dennis Malambula Naroldol was charged with her murder.
MESSY END FOR COMMISSIONER
Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker and the government went through a turbulent public divorce, after the top cop was asked to resign after three years in the top job.
Mr Chalker was told by the government that they had lost confidence in his leadership — months after a union survey found he had lost the support of his rank and file officers.
A 2022 Northern Territory Police Association revealed that 80 per cent of surveyed officers did not have confidence in Mr Chalker.
Mr Chalker began Supreme Court action against his bosses, but withdrew that after an undisclosed settlement payout.
DISASTER VICTIMS ACCUSED OF DAMAGE
Territorians fleeing the destruction of their homes were trapped in a new political whirlwind over damage to the Howard Springs crisis centre.
More than 600 Kalkarindji, Pigeon Hole and Daguragu residents were forced to leave their Victoria Daly homes due to intense flooding and were placed in the Centre for National Resilience.
The government would later admit that the single-person dorms may not have been fit-for-purpose as emergency accommodation for families escaping a remote disaster zone.
It was estimated that broken windows and dragged mattresses cost about $288,000 to repair — the equivalent of about $16 worth of damage per person, per night — but no one was charged over the incidents.
MAY
STUDENT SAFETY DEMONSTRATIONS
The death of a young Bangladeshi student ‘Sifat’ Md Isfaqur Rahman sparked debate over student safety and rental standards following an alleged brutal home invasion.
The 23-year-old Bangladeshi national was found by his roommates in bed with critical head injuries on May 3, 2023, after being woken up to the sound of someone in their yard.
Sifat was taken to the intensive care unit at Royal Darwin Hospital, but died the next day.
Brendan Kantilla was charged with the murder, and is due to face the Supreme Court in 2024.
UNION ELECTION
Nathan Finn was declared the new president of the NT Police Association after a full member vote following the resignation of Paul McCue.
Mr Finn said he was ready to step into the top union role after “some of the most challenging” few years cops have ever faced.
Mr Finn’s election comes as the agency battles critical staffing and morale issues, with about 97 per cent of members saying they do not think there is enough police on the beat nor support from the government.
MISSING MAN’S REMAINS
A blackmail and extortion plot allegedly surrounds the year-long mystery of the disappearance of Darwin man Tony Rowe.
Mr Rowe left the Hibiscus Tavern in Leanyer on May 28, 2022 where he had been seen drinking with a group of people.
It took police 12 months to locate his remains in an “isolated area south of Darwin”.
Three people have been charged in relation to his disappearance.
JUNE
BAR ALLEGED STABBING
A 23-year-old man has appeared in the Alice Springs Local Court charged with murder following a fatal stabbing outside the Todd Tavern.
Ricky Martin was charged with murder and appeared in court, with his supporters breaking down in tears as he entered the room.
A 32-year-old man was allegedly assaulted with an edged weapon before being taken to Alice Springs Hospital.
He later died as a result of his injuries.
SPITHOOD BAN PUSH
The police watchdog called for the government to formally legislate a ban on spit hoods, recommending that the ‘torture device’ to be illegal to use on anyone.
NT Police imposed an operational ban on the use of spit hoods on children, however that is not enforced by legislation.
The report, which was finalised in June but only tabled in August, called for the ban to be legislated and expanded to ban the restraints use on adults as well.
It comes as the Office of the Children’s Commissioner also released a position paper in June, calling for a legislated prohibition on the use of the restraints on children.
In a 55-page report, the children’s watchdog argued bans on spit hoods and restraint chairs would protect kids while not endangering police.
The report came 15 months after an exclusive NT News investigation revealed the continued use of the spit hoods by NT Police on kids as young as 12.
JULY
BUSH CAMP ALLEGED KILLING
A woman was allegedly beaten to death by her partner at an Alice Springs bush camp at the edge of a popular shopping strip.
Police received reports about a 47-year-old woman being assaulted with a blunt weapon at the bush camp between Sadadeen Rd and Stott Tce.
An NT Police spokeswoman said resuscitation attempts were made but the woman was declared dead almost an hour after the initial reports.
Jerry Robertson was charged with murder, engaging in conduct that contravenes a domestic violence order and being armed with an offensive weapon at night.
WANDING POWERS
Territory police have been granted the green light to “wand” people for knives and other weapons in 16 “high-risk” areas.
While the legislation was supported by both sides of politics on urgency, it did not pass without criticism.
Independent Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley voted in favour but voiced concerns it was being rushed into law and would lead to disproportionate scanning of Aboriginal people.
MUM ALLEGEDLY STABBED
A Territory mother-of-five was allegedly stabbed in the back by the man she loved —the 80th woman to die in a suspected domestic violence killing in the Territory since 2000.
Police have previously alleged first responders tried to save the 45-year-old woman, but she passed away an hour after the attack.
John Steven was charged with the 45-year-old’s murder.
Her West Australian mother Doreen Hester said she did not want her daughter to be forgotten, or brushed away as an unknown victim.
“They need to know who she was,” she said.
Ms Hester said her daughter, known for cultural reasons as Kumanjayi Skeen, would always be remembered as the loving, funny, caring woman.
“I cry every day and every night. I cannot understand why this happened,” she said.
AUGUST
FAMILY FUNDING FIGHT
Domestic Violence experts accused the Territory and Commonwealth governments of playing politics with women and children’s lives as services call out for more funding.
Coronial documents revealed in August showed that expert advice from the Territory’s Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Interagency Coordination and Reform Office were ignored by the NT government, with a $180m action plan over five years scaled back to $20m over two years.
Coroner Elisabeth Armitage was told that over the past 10 years abuse in Territory homes had increased by 117 per cent, with modelling predicting it could rise by a further 73 per cent by 2033.
Frontline cops have told Ms Armitage that domestic violence call outs were up to 80 per cent of their call outs.
She has indicated her recommendations would likely focus on the staffing and resourcing of triple-0 centres and officers, domestic violence training, and the establishment of a multidisciplinary team to assist police.
NEW POLICE LEADERSHIP
The Territory government named Michael Murphy as the next NT Police Commissioner following the bungled exit of Jamie Chalker.
Mr Murphy had been acting in the role since his predecessor’s departure and had indicated he would apply for the permanent position.
Within three weeks of his appointment Mr Murphy announced a major shake-up of the police top brass by removing one of the Deputy Commissioner roles and expanding the number of assistant commissioners to six.
In November it was revealed this restructure resulted in two highly respected Territory cops, Acting Deputy Commissioner Michael White and Assistant Commissioner Sachin Sharma, being pushed out of their roles.
SEPTEMBER
CREAM CREPE ‘ATTACK’
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles was allegedly assaulted by a fresh cream crepe, with a woman filmed slapping the top Territory leader with the dessert.
Police alleged Cullen Bay real estate agent Suzi Milgate launched the “unprovoked” attack on the Chief Minister at the Nightcliff markets.
Hours after being charged with aggravated assault, Ms Milgate defended her actions and advised Ms Fyles to “get over it”.
“It was just a cream pie out of frustration,” she said.
The incident resulted in electorate officers being warned about an increased risk of “terrorism”.
PINE CREEK CRASH
A Lajamanu family including four young sisters were the victims in a horror highway crash, the Territory’s worst road disaster in 16 years.
Motorists were helpless to save six people trapped in a “ball of fire” following a head-on crash on the Stuart Highway which reduced their newly purchased 4WD to a flaming ‘fireball’.
Initial investigations suggest the Mitsubishi 4WD swerved into the path of a truck carrying cars and trailers of mangoes headed south along the Stuart Highway on Friday, September 29.
WOOLIES ALLEGED STABBING
Police arrested a man in Jingili days after a Wadeye man was left to bleed out outside a Darwin supermarket as a crowd struggled to save him.
Major Crime Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Paul Morrissey confirmed a 28-year-old man was arrested in a Jingili home at midday Tuesday in relation to an alleged stabbing in Darwin’s CBD.
The arrest came nearly 60 hours after a 36-year-old man was allegedly stabbed in front of a group of people on Cavenagh St just after midnight on Saturday, September 16.
POLICE RESOURCE REVIEW
A retired Territory police officer and former union president was appointed to lead a long-awaited review into frontline resourcing and culture.
The NT government revealed the review would have Vince Kelly as its lead.
A final report is to be released publicly by the end of March next year, while interim findings will be handed down on December 15.
OCTOBER
NEW POLICE MINISTER
The Territory’s new Police Minister declared his number one priority was recruiting more cops, however not everybody had faith in the “junior” new cabinet member.
Fannie Bay MLA Brent Potter was sworn into the role alongside gaining responsibility for fire and emergency services and veteran’s affairs, in a major government reshuffle.
It marked a huge promotion for Mr Potter who was only elected in August last year and has no frontbench experience – something both the NT Police Association and Country Liberal Party have already criticised.
ATTEMPTED MURDER-SUICIDE
A Darwin man shot the mother of his child in the stomach before taking his own life in a horrific suspected murder-suicide.
Irish-born social worker Eileen Gibbons was found bleeding out from a gunshot wound to the stomach, following a domestic violence related attack.
A firearm was found near the body of her 35-year-old ex-partner at the Millner home, as a police investigation into his suspected attempted murder-suicide continued.
It is understood Ms Gibbons was living at a domestic violence shelter with her one-year-old daughter when she went to the Millner home to collect her belongings.
Neighbours reported hearing two gunshots, before the screaming began as the 35-year-old man’s family tried to save them.
NOVEMBER
ALLEGED MOIL MURDER
A son was accused of murder after his 71-year-old father was found unresponsive in a swimming pool at a Moil home.
Emergency services attended the McMillans Rd home and the older man was declared dead at the scene.
His exact cause of death was unknown at the time police arrived.
Jake Joshua Fenner, 29, appeared in the dock of the Darwin Local Court charged with the 71-year-old’s murder.
PUBLIC DRINKING CRACKDOWN
Northern Territory police will have more powers to deal with public drinking in a suite of changes that will also push back opening hours for Darwin bottle shops to midday on weekdays.
When parliament convened for the last sitting dates of the year, the government “urgently” introduced the amendments which will mean more people will end up on the Banned Drinking Register.
Police will have powers to ask for the ID of any public drinkers being disorderly and a seven-day Banned Drinking Order will be issued for people being disorderly in declared high-risk areas, drinking in a prohibited public place or within 2km of a licensed venue.
The new measures are added to the existing triggers for a BDO to be issued, and three strikes will see drinkers handed a three-month ban.
It comes as the NT allows private security guards to carry capsicum spray, despite concerns about the lack of oversight and accountability.
BABY’S BODY EXHUMED
After almost six decades, one of Australia’s most grisly mysteries is a step closer to being solved.
The remains of the baby sent in the mail have been exhumed, with hopes a DNA match could finally uncover his identity.
Sent to “J Anderson” with a fake return address, the baby was posted from Melbourne on May 3, 1965, sitting at a Darwin post office for eight days until staff noticed a putrid smell.
Inside the seeping parcel, wrapped in newspaper, they discovered the decomposing naked body of a baby with his umbilical cord still attached and a stocking wrapped tightly around his neck.
Dozens of cold case detectives, police, council workers and excavators descended on Darwin General Cemetery in Jingili to dig up the baby’s unmarked grave on November 22.
DECEMBER
10-YEAR STRATEGY OVERHAUL
NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy has announced the force would abandon its Project 2030 reform strategy, after just three years.
Mr Murphy said the plan would remain in place until 2024, when it would be simplified “to meet community and workforce expectations”.
It’s understood a new plan would be simplified over a shorter time frame, as the police force prepares for its split from the tri-force with firefighters and emergency services.
ALLEGED FISHING SLAVE SHIP
A Northern Territory fisherman is in jail over slavery allegations levelled against him after a four-month investigation sparked by a Qld Police rescue.
A crew member jumped into croc-infested waters in the middle of the night to escape a fishing boat and its owner, Australian Federal Police allege.
Humpty Doo man and Northern Coastal Fisheries owner Daniel Schoolmeester will spend Christmas behind bars after being charged with servitude and forced labour offences by the AFP.
On December 19 police received a distress call in regards to a person on-board Mr Schoolmeester’s boat who claimed they had been starved and threatened with being thrown overboard.
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