September 3, 2026 • 5 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Oh, and look at that, I've got Finney on the
line this morning. I thought that we were catching up
with him in the studio, but very pleased to see
that on the line with me right now is the
President of the Northern Territory Police Association, Nathan Finn. Good morning, Finney.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Good morning, Katie, and good morning, Phyllis, and apologies here,
I couldn't be there this morning.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Well, mate, it worked out all right for us because
we're busy, busy in here this morning, so I appreciate
you joining us on the line. Hey, um... Tell me,
we obviously saw a little bit earlier in the week,
the Northern Territory Government announced that Clinton, Clint Sims, is
the new Deputy Commissioner of the Northern Territory Police. He
brings with him more than 20 years experience, including as
(00:41):
a detective superintendent, as well as senior leadership roles with
the Australian Border Force. Finny, what was the response from
the association?
Speaker 2 (00:51):
The Responsible Association and our members have been quite supportive, Katie,
and we're looking forward to him commencing the role later
this month. And the majority of us who have been
around any length of time in the police force know
what Mr. Sims is about and how his leadership and
attributes will be great for the executive of the Northern
Territory Police Force.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
So, yeah, I was going to ask you, does he
bring with him, you know, what the Northern Territory Police
Force needs right now?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I believe so, Katie, and our members are having that
same thought. He's got integrity, he's professional in the way
he acts, and we look forward to working close with
him to support our members and to allow them to
do the best possible job that they can do.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
How important is it to have someone in that role
who does have such a strong understanding of the Northern
Territories policing, but also that broader experience also?
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Yeah, it's definitely important, Katie. Policing in the Northern Territory
is totally different to most of the other jurisdictions right
across Australia. We've seen that time and time again, members
come up from interstate. It's truly to understand the unique
policing role that we do here in the Northern Territory.
It helps to have someone that's walked the beat, lived
in the community and understands the issues that we face
(02:05):
on a daily basis.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Finny, tell me, what do you think of this two
commissioner deputy model that was announced as well? I know
that the police commissioner had said to us yesterday it's
something that's happened in the past. What do you make
of it?
Speaker 2 (02:20):
It's nothing new, Katie. We've seen this before. We've had
two deputy commissioners previously, again, trying to split up the
portfolios into frontline and specialist support as well. Again, it's
going to be a trial for the next six months.
We've seen it happen before. Previously, we've seen an operation. Previously,
they went back to one deputy commissioner model. So we're
just waiting to see how the commands are going to
(02:41):
be split up and who's going to be reporting to
who and what that looks like in totality for our members.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
And in terms of the executive at the moment, I
did ask Martin Dole about this yesterday, you know, where
we're at with some of those appointments to the executive.
And he said that there does certainly need to be
like some liaising with the police association as well before
before any public announcements are made. I mean, I'm not
expecting you guys to announce anything live on air, but
(03:08):
how many of those positions do we still have vacant
and what would you like to see happen in this space?
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yeah, there's still a number of positions vacant. They're trying
to recruit the Assistant Commissioner roles at the moment. So
there's a flow-on effect there. I believe there's three vacancies
there at that level. Obviously, it has a flow-on effect
when people are acting and the people are moving up
into those positions in those acting capacities, we have, it
creates a void right back through to the front line.
So we need to have them finalised. We need the
(03:35):
stability with our leadership and to make sure that these
people own the role they're doing and make sure they're
supporting the best their members underneath them and to enable
them to do their role.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
And Finny, as there is that sort of movement at
the moment within the executive and certainly with the appointment
of a new deputy commissioner, what are the biggest challenges
that you do want the executive to tackle?
Speaker 2 (03:59):
The health and wellbeing of our members, Katie, and it's
something we announced at conference and something we're very passionate
about at the NTPA. We want to make sure our
members are supported so they can do the best possible
role they can for their community, but to make sure
that their health and wellbeing is prioritised. It's not an
afterthought from the department to make sure that our members
are healthy and well and mentally healthy to be able
to do the job that they need to do.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Well, Nathan, Finn, it's always good to catch up with you, mate.
Anything else we should be aware of before I let
you go this morning?
Speaker 2 (04:26):
It's always busy times, Katie, and our members have had
a tough couple of weeks, especially with the death in Castellana, Acacia,
and what they've seen there, and we're on the ground
with them supporting them throughout that process. Yeah. I've been
involved in a motor vehicle accident since conference as well,
which a drink driver decided to crash into me. So
it's been a busy, busy, busy few weeks, unfortunately, but yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Well, man, I hope you're okay. That was, yeah, that
doesn't sound good. I hope you're all right. And I
know it has been a busy few weeks.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Yeah, no, we're okay. We're all fine. And our police
officer has done a remarkable job on the evening and
assisted me greatly throughout that process. And yeah, we look
forward to obviously the remainder of the year and to
work with the new executive for the Northern Territory Police
Force to make sure our members are supported and make
sure our members feel valued in the front line and
making sure that they're supported, Katie.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
Well, Nathan Finn, President of the Northern Territory Police Association,
always good to catch up with you, mate. Well, I
hope you have a good weekend and we'll talk to
you soon.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Yeah, it's always a pleasure. Thank you, Katie. Thank you.
Oh, and look at that, I've got Finney on the
line this morning. I thought that we were catching up
with him in the studio, but very pleased to see
that on the line with me right now is the
President of the Northern Territory Police Association, Nathan Finn. Good morning, Finney.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Good morning, Katie, and good morning, Phyllis, and apologies here,
I couldn't be there this morning.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Well, mate, it worked out all right for us because
we're busy, busy in here this morning, so I appreciate
you joining us on the line. Hey, um... Tell me,
we obviously saw a little bit earlier in the week,
the Northern Territory Government announced that Clinton, Clint Sims, is
the new Deputy Commissioner of the Northern Territory Police. He
brings with him more than 20 years experience, including as
(00:41):
a detective superintendent, as well as senior leadership roles with
the Australian Border Force. Finny, what was the response from
the association?
Speaker 2 (00:51):
The Responsible Association and our members have been quite supportive, Katie,
and we're looking forward to him commencing the role later
this month. And the majority of us who have been
around any length of time in the police force know
what Mr. Sims is about and how his leadership and
attributes will be great for the executive of the Northern
Territory Police Force.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
So, yeah, I was going to ask you, does he
bring with him, you know, what the Northern Territory Police
Force needs right now?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I believe so, Katie, and our members are having that
same thought. He's got integrity, he's professional in the way
he acts, and we look forward to working close with
him to support our members and to allow them to
do the best possible job that they can do.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
How important is it to have someone in that role
who does have such a strong understanding of the Northern
Territories policing, but also that broader experience also?
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Yeah, it's definitely important, Katie. Policing in the Northern Territory
is totally different to most of the other jurisdictions right
across Australia. We've seen that time and time again, members
come up from interstate. It's truly to understand the unique
policing role that we do here in the Northern Territory.
It helps to have someone that's walked the beat, lived
in the community and understands the issues that we face
(02:05):
on a daily basis.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Finny, tell me, what do you think of this two
commissioner deputy model that was announced as well? I know
that the police commissioner had said to us yesterday it's
something that's happened in the past. What do you make
of it?
Speaker 2 (02:20):
It's nothing new, Katie. We've seen this before. We've had
two deputy commissioners previously, again, trying to split up the
portfolios into frontline and specialist support as well. Again, it's
going to be a trial for the next six months.
We've seen it happen before. Previously, we've seen an operation. Previously,
they went back to one deputy commissioner model. So we're
just waiting to see how the commands are going to
(02:41):
be split up and who's going to be reporting to
who and what that looks like in totality for our members.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
And in terms of the executive at the moment, I
did ask Martin Dole about this yesterday, you know, where
we're at with some of those appointments to the executive.
And he said that there does certainly need to be
like some liaising with the police association as well before
before any public announcements are made. I mean, I'm not
expecting you guys to announce anything live on air, but
(03:08):
how many of those positions do we still have vacant
and what would you like to see happen in this space?
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yeah, there's still a number of positions vacant. They're trying
to recruit the Assistant Commissioner roles at the moment. So
there's a flow-on effect there. I believe there's three vacancies
there at that level. Obviously, it has a flow-on effect
when people are acting and the people are moving up
into those positions in those acting capacities, we have, it
creates a void right back through to the front line.
So we need to have them finalised. We need the
(03:35):
stability with our leadership and to make sure that these
people own the role they're doing and make sure they're
supporting the best their members underneath them and to enable
them to do their role.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
And Finny, as there is that sort of movement at
the moment within the executive and certainly with the appointment
of a new deputy commissioner, what are the biggest challenges
that you do want the executive to tackle?
Speaker 2 (03:59):
The health and wellbeing of our members, Katie, and it's
something we announced at conference and something we're very passionate
about at the NTPA. We want to make sure our
members are supported so they can do the best possible
role they can for their community, but to make sure
that their health and wellbeing is prioritised. It's not an
afterthought from the department to make sure that our members
are healthy and well and mentally healthy to be able
to do the job that they need to do.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Well, Nathan, Finn, it's always good to catch up with you, mate.
Anything else we should be aware of before I let
you go this morning?
Speaker 2 (04:26):
It's always busy times, Katie, and our members have had
a tough couple of weeks, especially with the death in Castellana, Acacia,
and what they've seen there, and we're on the ground
with them supporting them throughout that process. Yeah. I've been
involved in a motor vehicle accident since conference as well,
which a drink driver decided to crash into me. So
it's been a busy, busy, busy few weeks, unfortunately, but yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Well, man, I hope you're okay. That was, yeah, that
doesn't sound good. I hope you're all right. And I
know it has been a busy few weeks.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Yeah, no, we're okay. We're all fine. And our police
officer has done a remarkable job on the evening and
assisted me greatly throughout that process. And yeah, we look
forward to obviously the remainder of the year and to
work with the new executive for the Northern Territory Police
Force to make sure our members are supported and make
sure our members feel valued in the front line and
making sure that they're supported, Katie.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
Well, Nathan Finn, President of the Northern Territory Police Association,
always good to catch up with you, mate. Well, I
hope you have a good weekend and we'll talk to
you soon.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Yeah, it's always a pleasure. Thank you, Katie. Thank you.
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