Territory Coordinator Stuart Knowles’s history of cruelty to animals is of no concern to the Chief Minister or some of the biggest private companies that deal with the NT Government, with Lia Finocchiaro ruling out any action being taken against Mr Knowles over revelations his dogs were seized by animal welfare officers after suffering severe tick infestations and other health issues.

The Labor Opposition and an independent MLA say the “disturbing” abuse of dogs is deeply concerning and calls into question Mr Knowles’s character and suitability for the role as the most powerful unelected official in the NT Government.

Ms Finocchiaro’s office did not respond to questions for two days, following Wednesday’s NT Independent article exposing the animal abuse incident, which occurred in December 2015, while Mr Knowles was on leave from his NT Government job and while he was working for gas giant Inpex.

At a press conference on Friday morning, Ms Finocchiaro said she was not aware of the animal abuse case against Mr Knowles when she appointed him interim Territory Coordinator last year.

“I wasn’t [aware] and this is obviously a historical matter dealt with by the regulator 10 years ago,” she said. “Mr Knowles has answered questions in relation to that historical matter and we’re focused on moving forward.”

Ms Finocchiaro then cut the press conference off without taking any further questions, including how Mr Knowles was selected for the prominent role and what background checks were done.

Last year, while in opposition, Ms Finocchiaro called for then-Labor police minister Brent Potter to resign over “historical” racist, misogynistic, homophobic and anti-Semetic Facebook posts that the NT Independent revealed he had posted between six and 10 years earlier.

“Chief Minister, why do you let everyone who does the wrong thing get away with this bad behaviour,” Ms Finocchiaro asked then-chief minister Eva Lawler last year. “What he [Potter] hasn’t done is recognise that his leadership role at the top of the Northern Territory Police Force is untenable.”

The NT Independent contacted seven companies that have been awarded “major project” status by the NT Government to ask if they would continue to work with Mr Knowles, given the animal abuse revelations, or if they would take a stand against cruelty to animals.

Not one of the companies responded.

Those companies include Sun Cable, Verdant Minerals, Tamboran Resources, DCOH, Primary Gold and Arafura Rare Earths.

Mr Knowles’s role as Territory Coordinator involves unprecedented powers to circumvent existing legislation by “consolidating regulatory processes” for major projects to induce private business investment and drive “economic prosperity” for the Territory.

The animal abuse investigation report – prepared by the Animal Welfare Branch of the NT Government and obtained by the NT Independent – shows Mr Knowles was under investigation for multiple breaches of the Animal Welfare Act in late 2015, including cruelty to animals and failing in his duty of care after his four dogs were seized.

One of the infected dogs was found locked in a tin cage on the property in the middle of the day, while another could not put weight on its back right leg and another dog had bleeding paws caused by the ticks.

Another small dog appeared to have suffered an injury to his right eye and one of the larger dogs had missing front teeth, the report noted.

The investigation was later dropped without explanation.

Mr Knowles claimed in a statement this week that he had been “working extended hours on a major project” while on approved leave without pay from his position in the Department of Business at the time the dogs were seized from his Darwin River property and that he “regretted the incident”.

Two dogs owned by Stuart Knowles that were seized by animal welfare officers.

“The extended periods away from my home led to unintended neglect of my rural property, which, compounded by the Top End’s wet season conditions, resulted in a serious tick infestation affecting my dogs,” Mr Knowles said, adding that he “cooperated fully” with animal welfare officers and “covered the costs of additional treatments to eradicate the ticks”.

Independent MLA Justine Davis questioned Mr Knowles’s suitability for the role of Territory Coordinator and said Ms Finocchiaro’s refusal to answer questions about the vetting process and how he was selected undermined the public’s trust.

“The Territory Coordinator holds extraordinary, unelected power over major projects and legislation in the NT, yet it appears there was no proper vetting process,” she said. “When we hand someone this level of unchecked authority, we must be absolutely certain they are worthy of the trust that comes with it.

“The documented animal cruelty involving Stuart Knowles raises serious concerns about whether he is a fit and proper person for such a powerful role. There must be transparent, independent oversight of appointments like this. Territorians deserve better.”

Opposition Labor Leader Selena Uibo also questioned Mr Knowles’s suitability for the role moving forward.

“The revelations of animal abuse involving interim Territory Coordinator Stuart Knowles are extremely disturbing,” she said.

“If Mr Knowles isn’t able to care for his own animals, how can Territorians trust him to care for the future of the Territory?

“Lia Finocchiaro appointed Mr Knowles to one of the most powerful positions in the Northern Territory. What is she doing about these revelations?”