Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker has not returned from leave as planned today after launching legal action against the Chief Minister, Police Minister and the NT Government to block his sacking, while the courts have set aside three days in June to hear the case amid unknown “allegations” raised against Mr Chalker.
Federal Labor Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour has called on Territory Families and Police Minister Kate Worden to “deal with the issue” of child abuse and out-of-control crime in Central Australia rather than calling out Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton politically for raising concerns.
Organisers are expecting thousands of Territorians to once again rally against the violent crime crisis gripping the Territory, with the second rally in as many months scheduled for this Saturday at 4pm at Parliament House, calling on the Fyles Government to make the community safe by adopting real solutions and listening to the public.
Another senior chief executive in the NT Government has taken sudden “extended leave”, with sources telling the NT Independent the leave was a surprise to staff and comes amid lingering questions over the employment status of outgoing police commissioner Jamie Chalker.
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has broken her silence over the Jamie Chalker affair, but still refused to explain to Territorians the status of the police commissioner, telling reporters that she is engaged with him in “private conversations” about his contract.
Constable Zach Rolfe has been formally dismissed by the NT Police executive, a spokeswoman has confirmed, which comes amid vast leadership turmoil in the police.
UPDATED: The Fyles Government has refused to explain why Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker was asked to resign on Friday, while the Opposition and the union representing police have called for an immediate explanation to Territorians, which comes as Police Minister Kate Worden and acting commissioner Michael Murphy were seen on a plane to Sydney on Sunday for federal police meetings.
A horror Saturday night of crime that gripped the Greater Darwin region with carjackings, ram-raids and car rollovers was worse than publicly reported, with NT Police failing to disclose that a car full of guns and ammunition was also stolen from Daly River and four people shot with crossbows in the community, while the suspects for all crimes remain at large, sources have told the NT Independent.
UPDATED: Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker has taken indefinite leave with Deputy Commissioner Michael Murphy appointed acting commissioner, following reports the Fyles Government finally asked Mr Chalker to resign on Friday, after years of controversy.
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has refused to say if she hid from protesters behind locked doors during the anti-crime rally at Parliament House on Saturday, after an internal parliamentary email showed the government feared the public would attack electorate offices, with politicians told to lock their doors and not hesitate to use “duress buttons” while the rally was held.
The Opposition CLP have called on the Fyles Government to expand the list of weapons included in its urgent bail reforms, saying crimes committed with rocks, glass bottles, scissors, star pickets and other makeshift weapons would not result in a presumption against bail for offenders, despite the government’s pledge to make the community safer.
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has announced her government will introduce urgent bail reforms that would see a presumption against bail for offenders charged with violent offences using a weapon, which comes in response to community outrage over the death of 20-year-old bottle shop worker Declan Laverty.
