Ballot of more than 1000 NT Police finds 80 per cent don’t have confidence in Commissioner Jamie Chalker

A ballot of more than 1000 Northern Territory Police officers has found that almost 80 per cent do not have confidence in their Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker.

NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker. Picture: Glenn Campbell

A ballot of more than 1000 Northern Territory Police officers has found that almost 80 per cent do not have confidence in their Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker.

The Northern Territory Police Association launched a survey of its membership to – primarily – determine member confidence in their commissioner but also get feedback about resourcing, morale and the Government’s “insulting” pay freeze offer.

The NTPA said the July 27 survey was a direct result of motions, put forward by a majority of NTPA regions at their recent meetings, directing the NTPA Executive to conduct the ballot.

NTPA President Paul McCue last month said the survey would allow the union’s membership to not only have its say on their confidence in the Police Commissioner but also provide important reasons as to why they do, or do not, have faith in his leadership.

The results of the survey, which was sent to 1608 members, were revealed at the NTPA Annual Conference in Darwin yesterday.

Preliminary results from the independent facilitator Vero Voting revealed that 79.7 per cent of respondents said they do not have confidence in Commissioner Chalker.

Officers also expressed their dissatisfaction with other issues including resourcing, staffing and morale:

- 92.6 per cent of respondents said they do not think there are enough police in the NT to do what is being asked of them;

- 79.4 per cent of respondents rated current morale in the NT Police Force as low, or very low; and

- 87.9 per cent of respondents said they were dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied with the current pay freeze offer from the Commissioner and Government.

In total 1044 members took part in the survey which is 65 per cent of the membership and the highest general survey results ever received by the NTPA, second only to the pay ballot in 2017.

NTPA President Paul McCue last night told members that he had notified Commissioner Chalker of the initial results.

In July Mr McCue said responses from this survey would form an important part of future discussions with Government and the senior police executive.

“This survey is not a witch hunt,” he said.

“It is a mechanism to provide evidence to the government and Commissioner about how NT police officers currently feel, about a range of issues affecting them in their workplace.”

Commissioner Chalker confirmed he received the survey results last night.

“We have been aware of the confidence sentiment for some time,” he said.

“As I meet our members across the NT face to face I get an overwhelming sense of pride in a group of people who work to serve and protect Territorians every day.

“The job we do is incredibly demanding and the health and wellbeing of our members is our priority.”

The Territory’s top cop said he will address members’ concerns at next week’s NTPA annual conference.

“We remain committed to working with our people and the NTPA to continue to advance the NT Police Force and the health and wellbeing of all of our members,” he said.

“We look forward to discussing the issues raised in the survey and talking directly to the conference next week.”