Questions have been asked about the validity of the appointment of the Northern Territory Police Commissioner Michael Murphy’s replacement and dozens of other senior officers in the aftermath of his pending termination.
Minister -President Lia Finocciario issued a statement on Saturday and said that “the trial had begun to terminate the appointment of the police commissioner” after a report from the corruption watchdog of the territory accused him of “incompetence” and “negligence”.
The independent commissioner against corruption (ICAC) found commissioner Murphy who deals with incorrect and unsatisfactory behavior by doing a conflict of interest when he was chairman of a panel that last year his good friend Peter Kennon appointed assistant commissioner.
Lia Finocchiaro, depicted with Commissioner Murphy in January, announced on Saturday late that his position was “untenable”. ((ABC News: Michael Donnelly))
In a statement that trumped itself as the subject of the anonymized findings on Thursday, Commissioner Murphy said that he “should have dealt better with a conflict of interest, a friendship and a referee report with regard to an appointed”.
“On closer inspection, I should have managed the friendship and the conflict of interest for a higher standard and at least one opportunity should have come back from the appointment process to guarantee the confidence of the community,” he said.
In the statement, Commissioner Murphy has also noticed a series of other appointments with the best buyer of the Force in the last 12 months, including those of deputy commissioner Dole, as well as three assistant commissioners, five commanders and 18 superintendents.
Peter Kennon (left) with Michael Murphy at a press conference in Alice Springs in July last year, three months after his appointment to Assistant Commissioner. ((ABC News: Lee Robinson))
“These agreements have been granted to the most deserving and best candidates, each of whom are a strong, intelligent and innovative leader who has shown dedication to serve our community,” he said.
The Center for Public Integrity’s Geoffrey Watson SC told ABC Radio Assistant Commissioner Kennon’s appointment must be withdrawn and “it must go back for an independent assessment”.
“It can be very good that Mr. Kennon is the best candidate and if you bring in independent people to assess it, they can determine that,” he said.
Nathan Finn says that the trade union has “serious concern about the possible complicity of other panel members”. ((ABC News: Roxanne Fitzgerald))
But in a statement that was released on Thursday, the NT president of the police of the police Nathan Finn said that the ICAC findings made the integrity of all agreements made during the term of office of Commissioner Murphy.
“We call out the integrity of the Commissioner with his involvement in not only this executive appointment, but for all other executive agreements that are referred to in the broadcast of the Commissioner,” he said.
“We also have serious concern about the possible complicity of other panel members in the unacceptable behavior of the commissioner by not properly managing what a clearly serious conflict of interest is.“
John Lawrence SC says that the process for hiring assistant commissioner Kennon almost like how you don’t do it. “ ((ABC News: Dane Hirst))
Darwin lawyer John Lawrence SC said that the circumstances of the appointment of Assistant Commissioner Kennon “places a question mark about any other appointment on that executive floor of the Northern Territory Police”.
“It reveals a systemic hopelessness when it comes to the appointment of high functions,” he said.
“This is clearly a very senior position, and the way this went is almost like how you don’t.“
There has been no suggestion acting commissioner Dole, Assistant Commissioner Kennon or one of the other people have acted incorrectly.
NT Police is contacted for comment.
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