The public’s confidence in the role of NT Administrator has been badly shaken by the appointment of David Connolly, a senior Darwin barrister has said, while the NT Bar Association also raised concerns about his suitability for the “crucial constitutional position”, as the Chief Minister claimed Wednesday that while she was not aware of Mr Connolly’s offensive posts before recommending him, she would do it again because he is the “best possible person” in the Territory for the role.
CLP Government ministers were unable to provide simple answers in Parliament about basic NT public service code of conduct conditions while the Labor Opposition bombarded ministers with veiled questions about the appointment of David Connolly as Administrator after being shut down by the Speaker, who forbade any mention of Mr Connolly’s name, while attempting to move a motion calling for his revocation.
A police investigation into Darwin Mayor Peter Styles’ alleged involvement in the production and distribution of fraudulent how-to-vote cards that is now entering its sixth month remains ongoing, NT Police say, despite recent claims by one of the subjects of the investigation that everyone has been cleared of wrongdoing.
Confusion reigned Monday over who the current King’s representative in the Territory is after the Chief Minister said David Connolly was the Administrator with “limited powers” while the Administrator’s office said last week Chief Justice Michael Grant would be acting Administrator until February 27, with the situation further convoluted by Speaker Robyn Lambley issuing an internal email warning MLAs not to be “disrespectful” to Mr Connolly when Parliament resumes this week.
Darwin Mayor Peter Styles has blamed the NT Electoral Commission for his late campaign donation returns, claiming they misplaced a hard-copy list he hand-delivered in an envelope containing the names of all three of his donors last October, which he said was necessary because he was “busy” and electronic formats “could be deleted”.
The Finocchiaro CLP Government’s continued refusal to improve oversight of its spending by strengthening the Auditor-General’s independence, powers and resourcing has led to a “significant gap in public accountability”, the Centre for Public Integrity says, and could lead to further systemic misuse of public funds going undetected.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he is “worried” about whether the CLP Government’s pick for Administrator David Connolly is “able to properly represent the Northern Territory in a way which is appropriate” but ruled out overturning the appointment on Tuesday, stating that Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro’s government must “explain and defend” its choice.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro is facing increased political pressure to explain her controversial decision to appoint David Connolly as the NT’s next Administrator following national media coverage and growing concerns over his disparaging social media commentary, while not one CLP MLA has voiced public support for the appointment, the NT Independent can reveal.
The peak body representing Aboriginal organisations in the Territory has rejected David Connolly as the next NT Administrator and called for the NT and Federal Governments to terminate his appointment following his recently revealed social media comments and views that they say “undermine trust and respect across our diverse population”.
Papua New Guinea’s Auditor-General has more independence from the executive branch of government than the Northern Territory’s, according to a startling report, which has raised concerns about how effectively the NT Government is held to account for its exorbitant spending of taxpayer funds.
Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarandirri McCarthy and two federal MPs have labelled incoming NT Administrator David Connolly’s social media comments “reprehensible and offensive” and called for a public apology, while a national media outlet has reported further racially-charged commentary during a 2024 speech in which Mr Connolly also said that while he does not “offer offence, you are free to take it”.
The NT Opposition has called for the appointment of David Connolly as the next Administrator to be “put on hold and reviewed”, writing to the Governor-General over the weekend to seek “further advice” following revelations of his offensive social media comments, while Mr Connolly issued a statement on Monday claiming that he did not mean to “cause offence”, but stopped short of apologising to Indigenous Territorians for his repeated online ridicule.
