NT chief minister dodges on police chief’s job
Natasha Fyles has refused to reveal the employment status of beleaguered police commissioner Jamie Chalker.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has refused to reveal the employment status of beleaguered police commissioner Jamie Chalker following rumours he had been asked by the government to resign, but says she is “not afraid” to have difficult conversations about his future.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Ms Fyles said she had met with Mr Chalker last Friday. The following day, it was leaked to the media that he had been asked to step down from his position.
However, she would not speak to the nature of their conversation, nor confirm whether he would return from his reportedly prearranged leave later this month.
“As you can appreciate, under employment law, these conversations need to be confidential,” Ms Fyles said.
She said she was “not afraid to have difficult conversations, particularly when it’s in the best interests of the Northern Territory, and that is exactly what we are doing”.
“As it’s been reported, the police commissioner’s tenure, his contract, is due to expire towards the end of this year,” she said.
“In the lead-up to that expiry we have been having – in good faith – conversations with the police commissioner around his tenure in that role.”
Mr Chalker has also refused to confirm the status of his employment.
When asked if she had full confidence in Mr Chalker, Ms Fyles said she had “full confidence in the Northern Territory police force and the leadership under (acting commissioner) Michael Murphy”.
Just prior to Ms Fyles’ media address on Wednesday afternoon, Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said it was “very clear” Ms Fyles did support Mr Chalker.
“For years, our police force has been in crisis and the (Country Liberal Party) has tried on six occasions in parliament to call an inquiry into that crisis which would have also included calling the executive forward to explain why they need to keep their job,” Ms Finocchiaro said.
“It‘s very clear that Natasha Fyles no longer has confidence in Jamie Chalker, that’s despite the fact that for years she has defended him, and he has been paid as commissioner.
“Ultimately, her lack of words means his position is untenable and Natasha Fyles needs to explain today what the status of Jamie Chalker is.”
A survey conducted by the police union last August showed almost 80 per cent of participants “do not have confidence” in the leadership of NT police.
A different poll, released last month, showed that more than 80 per cent of officers rated police morale as low or very low, and more than 97 per cent of respondents said police were extremely under-resourced.
Sky News has also reported that during any one pay period, between 400 and 600 officers – about a third of the force – were calling in sick.
NT Police has faced recent criticism for their response times, with residents sometimes waiting up to 10 hours or more for officers to arrive after break-ins that have plagued families and business owners in recent times as the Territory struggles to contain a surge in youth and alcohol-fuelled violence.
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