Michael Gunner and NT police union clash over Zachary Rolfe case

Michael Gunner has raised the temperature of his stoush with the police union over the failed murder prosecution of Zachary Rolfe, accusing the body of ‘weaponising’ his remarks.

NT Police Union boss Paul McCue. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner has raised the temperature of his stoush with the police union over the failed murder prosecution of ­Zachary Rolfe, accusing the body of “weaponising” remarks he made in Yuendumu soon after Kumanjayi Walker’s death.

Mr Gunner promised a crowd in the troubled outback community that “consequences will flow” from investigations into the ­Aboriginal teenager’s fatal shooting. He maintains his remark was about policy issues likely to arise via a coronial inquest.

The NT Police Association and others have accused him of politicising a police investigation and of suggesting officers were at fault.

Asked on Tuesday if he regretted the comment, Mr Gunner lashed out at the NTPA’s ­“malicious” conduct. “I see how the union have weaponised it and politicised it,” he said.

“Those words were taken out of context and then repeatedly and, in my opinion, maliciously used by the union. They are responsible for … stoking tensions.”

NTPA president Paul McCue responded with his own furious statement, accusing Mr Gunner of “throwing all NT Police officers under a bus as he plays the blame game”.

“Once again, we have seen the Chief Minister happy to lay the blame for something he said at the feet of every single police officer in the NT,” he said.

“The Chief Minister is deliberately using terminology which only inflames an already upset police force and community, this morning saying how the union has weaponised and politicised his words. Yet he does not go on to say exactly how we did that.”

Mr Gunner restated he had no role in the decision to charge Constable Rolfe. He described ­allegations to the contrary made by Constable Rolfe in an interview with The Australian as ­“absolutely untrue and probably actionable”.

Country Liberal Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro attempted to pursue the Labor Chief Minister in question time, ­demanding to know how often he met with police soon after ­Walker’s death and under what circumstances.

Mr Gunner said he first ­became aware of the police’s ­intention to charge Constable Rolfe after the charges were laid. He also said the Immediate ­Response Team, of which Constable Rolfe was a part, had since been disbanded.

A police spokeswoman clarified that the IRT “was suspended in June 2020 (while) the team’s function is being reviewed”.

“The Territory Response Group can be deployed to critical incidents across the NT,” she said.