Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now we know late yesterday the Northern Territory government announced
an independent inquiry into senior public police recruitments, I should
say senior police recruitments. Now. It's going to be facilitated
through the Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment and
led by Acting Justice of the Northern Territory Supreme Court,
Alan blow Ao. The inquiry is going to examine the
(00:23):
appointment of officers to senior roles in the force since
August twenty twenty three, scrutinizing panel processes, merit and what
remedial action may be required. The Chief Minister Leofanocchiiro said,
it aims to provide certainty to the police and the
community and to restore confidence in the force. Joining me
(00:46):
in the studio is the Northern Territory Police Association President
Nathan Finn.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Good morning, Finny, good morning, Good morning listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Mate. What was your reaction when you learned that this
inquiry was going to happen.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
There was a fever of relief at the NTBA office
that welcome the independent inquiry, and this is something we
mentioned on your show on Monday as well about that. Again,
we support a transparent and merit based and accountable promotional
process for our members. That the inquiries about restoring the
trust and fairness in our recruitment programs. Okay, So I
understand that any knowledge that may cause some frustration to
(01:19):
those members that have been promoted under this system since
the announcement. This is something that was put out there
by the Commissioner of Police at the time he's announcement,
put into and led into and to announce these positions
he'd promoted in the last eighteen months since that time,
and that's what the inquiry's focused on. We haven't put
that out there. The NTPA has an ass for that.
We've been asked to comment on that, and I understand
that the angst and the people that have been promoted
(01:41):
in that system may be providing they feel a bit
aggrieved at the moment. I understand that, But I asked
this question as well, though, the people that were unsuccessful
in those promotional processes, how do you think they feel
if they're knowing that it might have been above board?
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Well, and that's the thing. All you want to know,
is there any appointment that has been made has been
made a fair manner and it may come back and
that that's the case. But people deserve to be assured
that that is indeed the.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Case, definitely, and our members deserve that trust. If inquiry
comes back, and hopefully it doesn't find anything, Katie, but
if it does, we need to deal with that, and
we need to ensure that our members have that integrity
in that promotional process and ensure that they're on an
even playing field when they are asking for promotion. It's
important for our members and it's also important for the
public to understand that we have that integrity in the
Northern Territory Police Force and the leadership is making the
(02:30):
right decision for our members.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
THENNI, do we know how many appointments have been made
to the Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, commander and superintendent since
August twenty twenty.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Three, as per the broadcast put out by police. I
believe from memory, Katie, I'm going off, I haven't got
it in front of me here, but there were three
assistant commissioner promotions, there was a Deputy commissioner approtion promotion.
I believe there was five Command of promotions and also
eighteen superintendent promotions.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
So it is quite a large number that are going
to be looked.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Into it is, but it's also senior police officers, the
senior police officers that we have trust in to do
the job that they need to do. It's about ensuring
the process and the category of that process is maintained,
not just for the support of those members, but also
support of the other members that are looking at this,
going hey, this doesn't seem quite right and the speculation
around it. I just want to get guaranteed to say, hey,
(03:23):
we've looked at this, it's all good, and the members
are going forward in doing what they need to do
and do their job, because at the end of the day,
they're still out there performing that role, regardless of what's
happening at the top and what's happening playing in the media. KD.
They're doing a tough job each and every day, and
we need to support them as well.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
You said on the show that members are aware of
favored people getting jobs over others. So I know that
there's been some media coverage this morning in different outlets
where it has been said that different people have been employed.
Does the scope of this inquiry go far enough? From
your perspective, there's.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Enough in the terms of reference there to start and
commence that there's also open ended if there's anything else
that's found throughout the obviously that the inquiry that they
can look into that investigate that further as well. So
I believe it's gone far enough. I'll be obviously having
a chat with I haven't had a chat with the
government about this announcement. I haven't had a chat be
prior to them making this announcement either.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
So well, you've been pretty straightforward though in the media
about it all, like you haven't. There's you know, I
don't feel as though you've beat around the bush at
all here. You've been pretty straightforward about it.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
I can't beat around the bush, Katy, and I need
to stick up for all of our members, and all
our members are equally important right across the Northern Churchy
Police Association where he to provide them and provide that
support and make sure that what's happening in this is
above board. That's all that needs to happen. And I
apologize to those members that have been caught up in
this and it's not our intention to do that, but
we haven't released that information. That information has been released
(04:47):
by the Commissioner of Police at the time, who's put
that intection.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
It was in that statement. That's the thing he'd actually
put it out there.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
I haven't raised concerns with those processes, Katie. That was
put out there in the media by them, not by us.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Now, in terms of how quickly you'd like to see
this review complete, I mean, does it need to be
complete sooner rather than later.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
It does need to be action sooner rather than later, Catie,
you provide that reassurance to our members and reassurance to
those members that are sitting in those positions as well.
If there is anything identified, they'd rather be identified sooner
rather than later, to make sure there's remedial process is
done and to make sure that the intiguity of that
process is maintained.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Now, in terms of acting Police Commissioner Martin Dole obviously
acting in that role, you know, it was reported earlier
in the week that he was not really able to
answer questions as to how he was appointed into that
role at a press conference. I wasn't there. I did
go back and listen to some of that audio. I mean,
do questions remain around his position.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
There's always questions remain. There's always speculation in the public
and also within the police force. As well, Caddie, there's
a lot of information that gets passed around. But again
I asked that if there's evidence to suggest anything such,
they've got obligations to report that information as well. It's
not just about having a conversation in a hallway. It's
about during your obligation and to make sure that there's
a public officer, which we are as police officers, that
(06:08):
if you have evidence to suggest anything such that that
should be reported.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Finny, do you anticipate that this inquiry is going to
restore confidence in the police force or does more need
to be done?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
The inquiry will go a long way to instoring that
confidence in our police force to make sure that the processes.
But again Katie, unless anything else comes up, we don't
know what's going on. In totality, all we can say
is take the advice of what's being said. We don't
have access to all the information as well as we
don't have access to the IKAK report that's been released
to the government and who've been in discussion with the government.
(06:42):
We're not privy to that and we don't need to
be privy to that. But based on I don't know
what they've looked at, what they haven't looked at what
other recommendations, whatever information's contained in that as well.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
It sort of sounds to me from what you're saying
this morning, that you know that rank and file are
quite happy that this review is going to get underway,
but it does seem as though, you know, maybe some
that have been appointed to senior ranks are upset that
you know their positions and that potentially their names have
(07:13):
you know, have have been brought into a situation that
they feel they don't deserve.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
To be sometimes that they might have any knowledge of
anything going on whatsoever, and they've been brought into unknown
only because just because they've been promoted and they've applied
for promotion in the last eight months and been successful.
But I also in converse, I go, what about the
people that actually missed out on that promotion process and
they feel aggrieved as well if the process wasn't above board,
(07:38):
they're feeling that as well. So they've had the confidence
to go, you know what, this will be good for
all of us to progress and move forward. And whatever
the inquiry comes up with or whatever the inquiry goes through,
and how long that goes for, I don't know, but
just to make sure that there's some integrity restored in
the terstory police Force.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
Finny, we are just about to catch up with the
Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley before he joins me in the studio.
Police must be pretty pleased that they've now got Palmeston
Police Station of Palmerston Watchhouse back.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
I would love to say we've got that Parmeston watch
House back since the announcement yesterday. That's not actually true.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Okay, so when are you getting it? Then?
Speaker 2 (08:15):
We have got it back, but we're also looking after
their prisoners in outside our watchass without their staffing to
allow us to do that role.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Okay, So when do you anticipate that's going to change?
Speaker 2 (08:25):
That's the million dollar question. I've tried to get some
briefings from the minister.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
For question, how many prisoners have you got in there? Then?
Speaker 2 (08:31):
This morning I believe we had an excess of forty
in Palmerston, which are corrections prisoners. Again, their staff's moved out,
their staffs moving over to their other facilities. We're still
holding their prisons in our facility, so it's not all
it's been reported, and we're still holding an excess of
thirty also in Catherine and also you.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Yeah, so you've got about seventy prisoners.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
It's just in the top end, but Alice Springs is
a lot higher.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Than that, And so no word on when you're actually
when you know they're going to be out of the
actual watchhouse.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
So technically our members are quite frustrated with that, Katie.
They've taken their staff out, correction staff that were looking
after their corrections prisons and inside our facilities, and now
it's destined to us to look after these prisons on
top of our normal business. Yes, we have got our
watch houses back free of correction stuff, not of corrections prisoners.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
All right, Well that makes things a bit different, doesn't
it. It must be burdening officers at this morn in time.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
They are frustrated, Katie, because what's being said and what's
being announced. Yes, we have got our watchesses back to us,
but not solely to us. We're looking after their prisoners still.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
All right, Well we are just about to catch up
with the corrections commissioners. So it could be awkward in
the hallway for you there, Finny.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
I'm sure it's never It's never awkward, it's never. All
these are the questions that our members ask, and our
members are concerned, and when that risk is placed back
on our members, they go, hey, hang on a minute,
and we need to support them as much as what's
going on in the background. We're still doing that important work,
the touching base with their members of making sure that
(10:01):
we can support them as best we possibly can.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Absolutely, Nathan Finn. Always good to catch up with you.
I appreciate you always.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Good Katie, and thank you to the men and women.
I know it's been a bit of a turmoil at
the moment what's going on, but thank you for what
you do. Absolutely, we appreciate what you do above and
beyond each and every day, and we're here to support
you no matter what.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Yeah, one hundred percent. I echo that. I think our
police on the ground are doing one heck of a
job and the community does really really appreciate that work. Finny,
thank you, We'll talk to you.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Thank you, Thank you,
Now we know late yesterday the Northern Territory government announced
an independent inquiry into senior public police recruitments, I should
say senior police recruitments. Now. It's going to be facilitated
through the Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment and
led by Acting Justice of the Northern Territory Supreme Court,
Alan blow Ao. The inquiry is going to examine the
(00:23):
appointment of officers to senior roles in the force since
August twenty twenty three, scrutinizing panel processes, merit and what
remedial action may be required. The Chief Minister Leofanocchiiro said,
it aims to provide certainty to the police and the
community and to restore confidence in the force. Joining me
(00:46):
in the studio is the Northern Territory Police Association President
Nathan Finn.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Good morning, Finny, good morning, Good morning listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Mate. What was your reaction when you learned that this
inquiry was going to happen.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
There was a fever of relief at the NTBA office
that welcome the independent inquiry, and this is something we
mentioned on your show on Monday as well about that. Again,
we support a transparent and merit based and accountable promotional
process for our members. That the inquiries about restoring the
trust and fairness in our recruitment programs. Okay, So I
understand that any knowledge that may cause some frustration to
(01:19):
those members that have been promoted under this system since
the announcement. This is something that was put out there
by the Commissioner of Police at the time he's announcement,
put into and led into and to announce these positions
he'd promoted in the last eighteen months since that time,
and that's what the inquiry's focused on. We haven't put
that out there. The NTPA has an ass for that.
We've been asked to comment on that, and I understand
that the angst and the people that have been promoted
(01:41):
in that system may be providing they feel a bit
aggrieved at the moment. I understand that, But I asked
this question as well, though, the people that were unsuccessful
in those promotional processes, how do you think they feel
if they're knowing that it might have been above board?
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Well, and that's the thing. All you want to know,
is there any appointment that has been made has been
made a fair manner and it may come back and
that that's the case. But people deserve to be assured
that that is indeed the.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Case, definitely, and our members deserve that trust. If inquiry
comes back, and hopefully it doesn't find anything, Katie, but
if it does, we need to deal with that, and
we need to ensure that our members have that integrity
in that promotional process and ensure that they're on an
even playing field when they are asking for promotion. It's
important for our members and it's also important for the
public to understand that we have that integrity in the
Northern Territory Police Force and the leadership is making the
(02:30):
right decision for our members.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
THENNI, do we know how many appointments have been made
to the Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, commander and superintendent since
August twenty twenty.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Three, as per the broadcast put out by police. I
believe from memory, Katie, I'm going off, I haven't got
it in front of me here, but there were three
assistant commissioner promotions, there was a Deputy commissioner approtion promotion.
I believe there was five Command of promotions and also
eighteen superintendent promotions.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
So it is quite a large number that are going
to be looked.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Into it is, but it's also senior police officers, the
senior police officers that we have trust in to do
the job that they need to do. It's about ensuring
the process and the category of that process is maintained,
not just for the support of those members, but also
support of the other members that are looking at this,
going hey, this doesn't seem quite right and the speculation
around it. I just want to get guaranteed to say, hey,
(03:23):
we've looked at this, it's all good, and the members
are going forward in doing what they need to do
and do their job, because at the end of the day,
they're still out there performing that role, regardless of what's
happening at the top and what's happening playing in the media. KD.
They're doing a tough job each and every day, and
we need to support them as well.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
You said on the show that members are aware of
favored people getting jobs over others. So I know that
there's been some media coverage this morning in different outlets
where it has been said that different people have been employed.
Does the scope of this inquiry go far enough? From
your perspective, there's.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Enough in the terms of reference there to start and
commence that there's also open ended if there's anything else
that's found throughout the obviously that the inquiry that they
can look into that investigate that further as well. So
I believe it's gone far enough. I'll be obviously having
a chat with I haven't had a chat with the
government about this announcement. I haven't had a chat be
prior to them making this announcement either.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
So well, you've been pretty straightforward though in the media
about it all, like you haven't. There's you know, I
don't feel as though you've beat around the bush at
all here. You've been pretty straightforward about it.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
I can't beat around the bush, Katy, and I need
to stick up for all of our members, and all
our members are equally important right across the Northern Churchy
Police Association where he to provide them and provide that
support and make sure that what's happening in this is
above board. That's all that needs to happen. And I
apologize to those members that have been caught up in
this and it's not our intention to do that, but
we haven't released that information. That information has been released
(04:47):
by the Commissioner of Police at the time, who's put
that intection.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
It was in that statement. That's the thing he'd actually
put it out there.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
I haven't raised concerns with those processes, Katie. That was
put out there in the media by them, not by us.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Now, in terms of how quickly you'd like to see
this review complete, I mean, does it need to be
complete sooner rather than later.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
It does need to be action sooner rather than later, Catie,
you provide that reassurance to our members and reassurance to
those members that are sitting in those positions as well.
If there is anything identified, they'd rather be identified sooner
rather than later, to make sure there's remedial process is
done and to make sure that the intiguity of that
process is maintained.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Now, in terms of acting Police Commissioner Martin Dole obviously
acting in that role, you know, it was reported earlier
in the week that he was not really able to
answer questions as to how he was appointed into that
role at a press conference. I wasn't there. I did
go back and listen to some of that audio. I mean,
do questions remain around his position.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
There's always questions remain. There's always speculation in the public
and also within the police force. As well, Caddie, there's
a lot of information that gets passed around. But again
I asked that if there's evidence to suggest anything such,
they've got obligations to report that information as well. It's
not just about having a conversation in a hallway. It's
about during your obligation and to make sure that there's
a public officer, which we are as police officers, that
(06:08):
if you have evidence to suggest anything such that that
should be reported.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Finny, do you anticipate that this inquiry is going to
restore confidence in the police force or does more need
to be done?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
The inquiry will go a long way to instoring that
confidence in our police force to make sure that the processes.
But again Katie, unless anything else comes up, we don't
know what's going on. In totality, all we can say
is take the advice of what's being said. We don't
have access to all the information as well as we
don't have access to the IKAK report that's been released
to the government and who've been in discussion with the government.
(06:42):
We're not privy to that and we don't need to
be privy to that. But based on I don't know
what they've looked at, what they haven't looked at what
other recommendations, whatever information's contained in that as well.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
It sort of sounds to me from what you're saying
this morning, that you know that rank and file are
quite happy that this review is going to get underway,
but it does seem as though, you know, maybe some
that have been appointed to senior ranks are upset that
you know their positions and that potentially their names have
(07:13):
you know, have have been brought into a situation that
they feel they don't deserve.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
To be sometimes that they might have any knowledge of
anything going on whatsoever, and they've been brought into unknown
only because just because they've been promoted and they've applied
for promotion in the last eight months and been successful.
But I also in converse, I go, what about the
people that actually missed out on that promotion process and
they feel aggrieved as well if the process wasn't above board,
(07:38):
they're feeling that as well. So they've had the confidence
to go, you know what, this will be good for
all of us to progress and move forward. And whatever
the inquiry comes up with or whatever the inquiry goes through,
and how long that goes for, I don't know, but
just to make sure that there's some integrity restored in
the terstory police Force.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
Finny, we are just about to catch up with the
Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley before he joins me in the studio.
Police must be pretty pleased that they've now got Palmeston
Police Station of Palmerston Watchhouse back.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
I would love to say we've got that Parmeston watch
House back since the announcement yesterday. That's not actually true.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Okay, so when are you getting it? Then?
Speaker 2 (08:15):
We have got it back, but we're also looking after
their prisoners in outside our watchass without their staffing to
allow us to do that role.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Okay, So when do you anticipate that's going to change?
Speaker 2 (08:25):
That's the million dollar question. I've tried to get some
briefings from the minister.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
For question, how many prisoners have you got in there? Then?
Speaker 2 (08:31):
This morning I believe we had an excess of forty
in Palmerston, which are corrections prisoners. Again, their staff's moved out,
their staffs moving over to their other facilities. We're still
holding their prisons in our facility, so it's not all
it's been reported, and we're still holding an excess of
thirty also in Catherine and also you.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Yeah, so you've got about seventy prisoners.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
It's just in the top end, but Alice Springs is
a lot higher.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Than that, And so no word on when you're actually
when you know they're going to be out of the
actual watchhouse.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
So technically our members are quite frustrated with that, Katie.
They've taken their staff out, correction staff that were looking
after their corrections prisons and inside our facilities, and now
it's destined to us to look after these prisons on
top of our normal business. Yes, we have got our
watch houses back free of correction stuff, not of corrections prisoners.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
All right, Well that makes things a bit different, doesn't
it. It must be burdening officers at this morn in time.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
They are frustrated, Katie, because what's being said and what's
being announced. Yes, we have got our watchesses back to us,
but not solely to us. We're looking after their prisoners still.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
All right, Well we are just about to catch up
with the corrections commissioners. So it could be awkward in
the hallway for you there, Finny.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
I'm sure it's never It's never awkward, it's never. All
these are the questions that our members ask, and our
members are concerned, and when that risk is placed back
on our members, they go, hey, hang on a minute,
and we need to support them as much as what's
going on in the background. We're still doing that important work,
the touching base with their members of making sure that
(10:01):
we can support them as best we possibly can.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Absolutely, Nathan Finn. Always good to catch up with you.
I appreciate you always.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Good Katie, and thank you to the men and women.
I know it's been a bit of a turmoil at
the moment what's going on, but thank you for what
you do. Absolutely, we appreciate what you do above and
beyond each and every day, and we're here to support
you no matter what.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Yeah, one hundred percent. I echo that. I think our
police on the ground are doing one heck of a
job and the community does really really appreciate that work. Finny,
thank you, We'll talk to you.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Thank you, Thank you,
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