UPDATED: The Fyles Government must explain to Territorians what their plans are to cut funding for frontline police staff in the middle of a crime crisis, the Opposition, police union and an independent MLA say, after Police Minister Kate Worden was photographed with a secret memo that revealed proposed massive budget cuts to the NT Police over the next four years.

Ms Worden was photographed in Alice Springs last week reviewing the document in a public place entitled “Frontline staff reductions to meet NTG savings targets” after holding crisis meetings with the Prime Minister about the town’s out-of-control crime issues.

An enhanced close-up of the document shows it was a memo to the Treasurer from the Minister outlining a proposed $16 million cut in funding for police next financial year, rising to $31 million annually over the subsequent three financial years.

NT Police Association president Paul McCue said the NT Independent’s report on the proposed cuts as seen in the document had “caused significant concern to many of our members” and that any cuts to frontline police services would result in a “disaster” for the Northern Territory.

“Without knowing the full content of the documents which have been photographed, it is difficult to make comment on specifics, but we acknowledge the situation has caused significant concern to many of our members,” he said.

“Having said that, any consideration or discussion regarding cutting critical frontline staffing would be an absolute disaster for the NT Government and the NT community, let alone the police themselves.

“There is nothing that can be cut from the Police, Fire and Emergency Services budget that won’t have a direct impact on the frontline, and the response capability of our members.”

Mr McCue pointed to last year’s member survey which found that 93 per cent of those officers who responded said there weren’t currently enough police to meet the demands of the job and 80 per cent said morale was low or very low.

“Our members barely have enough staff and resources to do their core business [presently],” Mr McCue said.

“Any thought of taking more away will cripple our police force.”

CLP Opposition Deputy Leader Gerard Manley echoed Mr McCue’s comments and questioned why the Police Minister was contemplating cuts to frontline police in the middle of a crime crisis.

“This is a question for the Police Minister,” he said.

“If this document is accurate, this would be an absolute disaster. The last thing that you would do in the middle of the Labor-made Territory crime crisis is cut frontline services.”

The confidential memo clearly referenced “staffing reductions” for police and the reduction in funding of up to $31 million by 2027-28, while other lines from the secret document Ms Worden was photographed with are obscured, but reference “declining NTG investment in NTPFES” and “Budget Paper No. 3”, with another line stating “…[Treasury] and Finance have previously advised Cabinet …[obscured]… staffing reductions or lower employment…”

Independent Alice Springs MLA Robyn Lambley said Ms Worden and Chief Minister Natasha Fyles “must come clean about their intention to cut finding to frontline [police, fire and emergency] staff”.

“The lies and spin of this government must cease,” she said.

“Territorians need to know the truth about the allocation of public funds and any imminent cuts to frontline services. Does the Chief Minister intend to cut funding to police during the highest rates of crime we have ever seen in the NT?”

The revelations of the proposed cuts also come while the government is in ongoing EBA negotiations with police.

Mr McCue was asked if the government was acting in good faith by attempting to negotiate a new contract with police while secretly planning to make massive budget cuts next financial year.

“We are 12 months into Consent Agreement negotiations, with inflation sitting at more than seven per cent in the Northern Territory, and our members are still without a meaningful and adequate pay rise offer,” Mr McCue said.

“Government wants to exploit our members by asking them to do more with less and refuses to offer them a wage rise that reflects their dedication and service, and is in line with rising cost of living pressures.

“Our message to government is quite simply, pay our members what they deserve and give them the staff and resources they need to keep the community safe”.

Worden claims proposed cuts not actioned

Ms Worden’s office did not respond to the NT Independent’s questions about the proposed funding cuts, but told the NT News the “document in question was not approved”.

The NT News failed to ask why she was reading it in a public place after leaving crisis talks with the Prime Minister and why she was lobbying the Treasurer for cuts to the police budget.

It was also unclear if the cuts would go ahead at a later time.

“As a government we consistently review our budget position and review how we can better serve the Territory,” Ms Worden told the newspaper.

“Departments provide ministers with advice and correspondence frequently, however these are not always approved or accepted.”

The document was from the Minister to the Treasurer and dated 2022.

Fyles apologies to police for ‘step up’ comment

On Tuesday, Ms Fyles apologised to the union for saying on radio that police needed to “step up” amid the crime crisis in Alice Springs but did not address her government’s proposed budget cuts and potential frontline staff reductions.

Ms Fyles had made the comment on Monday on Mix 104.9 while responding to questions about the crime crisis.

“We have to have an immediate response, which is why I have asked police to step up,” she said.

“I have contacted the Police Commissioner [Jamie Chalker] to say that I expect every resource to be placed in Alice Springs to support that community right now.”

But Mr McCue objected to the comment about police stepping up, saying in a statement posted to social media that, “Natasha Fyles has insulted every member of the NT Police force, from the top down”.

Ms Fyles responded with a post on her Facebook page, apologising.

“I’ve rung Paul McCue, president of the Northern Territory Police Association to offer my apologies regarding comments I made int he media yesterday,” the post said.

“Once I became aware of the unintended harm my comments caused I contacted the Northern Territory Police Association. Territory police are the best in the nation.”

She has not addressed the proposed budget cuts.

NOTE: This story was updated to include Kate Worden’s comments.