Northern Territory police call for their Police Commissioner Michael Murphy to resign

There is increasing pressure for the Northern Territory’s top police officer, Police Commissioner Michael Murphy, to resign today after admitting he was ICAC’s unnamed mystery bureaucrat.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro and NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy. Picture: Zizi Averill

There is increasing pressure for the Northern Territory’s top police officer, Police Commissioner Michael Murphy, to resign today after admitting he was the unnamed mystery bureaucrat damned in a scathing ICAC report.

The entire Executive board of the Northern Territory Police Association (NTPA) has unanimously called for the Commissioner to tender his resignation.

The NTPA has called out the integrity of Police Commissioner Michael Murphy “following his stunning admission that he failed to manage a serious conflict of interest.”

It says the Police Commissioner’s behaviour has ignited widespread frustration and anger among our members, who once again find themselves questioning the integrity of their leadership.

In 2024, Commissioner Murphy chaired a promotional panel that appointed his friend to an Executive position with the Northern Territory Police Force – while also supplying the candidate with his personal resume and acting as a personal referee to the applicant.

The Police Association says this blatant improper conduct raises serious ethical concerns and further erodes trust within the ranks of the Northern Territory Police Force.

The Police Association accused the Police Commissioner of having a blatant disregard for the Northern Territory Police Force and the underlying principles of the 2024-2027 Strategic Plan, which was signed off by the Commissioner:

Ethical Practice – Holding the highest standards of professional conduct and integrity

Accountability – Taking responsibility of our actions

Impartiality – Ensuring fairness and balance in our advice and decision-making and interaction with others

NT Police Association President Nathan Finn meeting with Chief Minister-Elect Lia Finocchiaro.

NTPA President Nathan Finn said this has triggered deep anger and frustration among our members and brings into disrepute the whole police force.

“Our members are fed up with the lack of integrity shown and question the Commisioner’s ability to remain in his position,” Mr Finn said.

“This is yet another example of the Northern Territory Police Force Executive failing to uphold the very standards they demand of others.

“It is a slap in the face to the hardworking men and women on the ground who put their lives on the line every day.

“We are calling out the Commissioner’s integrity with his involvement in not only this Executive appointment, but for all of the other executive appointments referred to in the Commissioner’s broadcast.

“We also have grave concerns over the potential complicity of other panel members in the Commissioner’s unacceptable conduct in not properly managing what is an obvious serious conflict of interest.

“To say that the applicant was awarded the position on merit in this case is not sustainable when such a clear conflict of interest existed and was not managed.

“It also constitutes a clear violation of the Police Code of Conduct and Ethics, which explicitly outlines the proper handling of conflicts of interest.

“As to the Commissioner’s intended implementation of a written policy for police executive recruitment and managing conflicts of interest, it is not a matter of policy it’s a matter of character, character that this Commissioner lacks.

“The Commissioner’s actions — or lack of — speak louder than any strategic plan or policy. It speaks to a lack of accountability and integrity.

“The trust of our members in this Commissioner is now destroyed. Our members will not forget this betrayal and question his ability to continue as the Commissioner of Police.”

Originally published as Northern Territory police call for their Police Commissioner Michael Murphy to resign