An independent MLA says she will publicly name the “senior public officer” who an ICAC investigation found engaged in “negligence and incompetence” concerning a hiring process in his department when Parliament resumes, while Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro stormed out of a press conference Tuesday morning after facing questions about her lack of action.
Ms Finocchiaro refused to answer the NT Independent’s questions about whether she would take any action against the “public officer”, hiding behind the ICAC Act that forbids the naming of the individual, despite his high position, the improper conduct he engaged in that called the integrity of his agency into question and the fact that the Chief Minister is ultimately the Minister responsible for the ICAC.
Ms Finocchiaro said she was briefed by the Office of the ICAC about the Operation Apollo investigation last week before the public statement was made, that revealed the “senior public officer” hired a close friend for a job while sitting on the hiring panel early last year and also provided the friend with his successful job application. The ICAC’s delegate found his actions resulted in a “substantial detriment to the public interest and was also an inappropriate use of public resources…”.
The public officer has also repeatedly failed to publicly accept responsibility for his improper conduct and identify himself.
Ms Finocchiaro claimed on Tuesday that she was prevented from disclosing the identity of the individual because of changes to the ICAC Act and then attempted to direct questions to the Office of the ICAC. She would not explain why she has not taken action against the public officer without naming him.
“So, I’m bound by the ICAC Act to deliver on that level of secrecy,” she said.
The Chief Minister does not appear to appreciate that the prohibitions on publishing the name of the “senior public officer” and the evidence which forms the basis of the adverse findings against him apply to ICAC, not to her as its Minister.
The Operation Apollo investigation raised potential breaches of the criminal code, but Ms Finocchiaro said she was not in a position to “make that call” about referring the matter to the NT Police for a further criminal investigation and put it back on the ICAC.
She was asked again if she would refer it to the police and if she had confidence in the Police Commissioner to investigate the matter properly.
“The ICAC Commissioner and the ICAC office are the ones who conduct investigations,” she said.
“I believe it was really intended to be an exercise in public education around best practice, around conflicts of interest, but all that’s done is create this hunt for whomever the public [officer is]”.
The NT Independent then asked why she was “playing charades” when she knows who it is and why she hasn’t taken action against the public officer.
“I don’t think you’re really asking me to break the law,” she said.
“[We’re] asking you to be a leader,” the NT Independent responded.
She then said she could not say if the person involved was in one of her departments. She was repeatedly asked if she would take action, but left the press conference without answering the question.
Independent MLA Justine Davis said the Chief Minister’s handling of the improper conduct findings was “deeply concerning” and said if Ms Finocchiaro continued to avoid taking action, she would name the public officer under parliamentary privilege.
“Her refusal to take swift and decisive action against this public officer is a major failure of leadership and mirrors the same pattern of neglect we saw under the previous Labor government,” she said.
“The integrity of public officials is paramount, particularly in roles that demand the trust of the public. By downplaying the misconduct as a matter of ‘education’ around hiring processes, the Chief Minister shows a lack of concern for the public’s trust, which is vital in positions of authority.
“Under section 11 of the MLA code of conduct, members must act in what they genuinely believe to be the public interest.
“The public deserves to know the identity of the senior public officer involved and what steps are being taken in response to the misconduct.
“If the Chief Minister does not act, I will be forced to ask questions and name this individual in the next Parliamentary sitting.”
Parliamentary sittings resume March 18.
If Territorians dont want to hear the sentence “Please welcome Cheif Minister Eva Lawler” in August 2028,
please contact your local CLP MLA and ask them if they want to be forever tainted in
the NT as being part of a corrupt cabal of friends and favors, highlighting the worst one term government in the history of the Northern Territory.
The damning news articles that are surfacing are just the beginning. The CLP’s future requires a undamaged Chief Minister whose actions are
seen to be beyond reproach, doesn’t storm out of media meetings, and has not left the entire Labor Apparatus untouched and firmly locked into the NT Public Service.
This is not about CLP vs ALP. This is about long term agreements between both parties and which have benefited all the politicians immeasurably.
Please consider emailing your CLP MLA with your express concerns about the future of the CLP.
Hon Steve EDGINGTON electorate.Barkly@nt.gov.au
Mr Matthew KERLE MLA Electorate.Blain@nt.gov.au
Hon Joshua BURGOYNE MLA Electorate.Braitling@nt.gov.au
Hon Marie-Clare BOOTHBY MLA Electorate.Brennan@nt.gov.au
Mr Khoda PATEL MLA Electorate.Casuarina@nt.gov.au
Mr Clinton Howe MLA Electorate.Drysdale@nt.gov.au
Mrs Laurie ZIO MLA Electorate.FannieBay@nt.gov.au
Dr Tanzil RAHMAN MLA Electorate.FongLim@nt.gov.au
Mr Andrew MACKAY MLA Electorate.Goyder@nt.gov.au
Mr Brian O’GALLAGHER MLA Electorate.Karama@nt.gov.au
Hon Jo-Anne Hersey MLA Electorate.Katherine@nt.gov.au
Hon William Yan MLA Electorate.Namatjira@nt.gov.au
Hon Robyn CAHILL OAM MLA Electorate.PortDarwin@nt.gov.au
Hon Jinson CHARLS MLA Electorate.Sanderson@nt.gov.au
Mrs Oly CARLSON MLA electorate.Wanguri@nt.gov.au
What rubbish, she can not legally release the name, Chris turn your attention to useless Luke who after 8 years has yet to visit the port
Boof! Wait til the name drops in Parliament!
Where’s Selena, the head of the alleged opposition on this topic? Stone cold quiet indicating the seniority of the fine gentlemen central to this article…….
Luke must be grinning ear to hear. Another untoward favor from LIa it seems.
CLP could change the ICAC Act in 5 minutes to remove the section put in there by Greg Shamahan’s secret-then-not-secret review of the Act before he was the Commissioner (!!!!) which grants this identity protection to individuals.
Lia appointed her useful friend Greg because she knew he would perform a certain way. Give the guy a f**king medal! Oh wait, his mates did that already. From other online media, try to read it with a straight face if you can:
In 2020, Mr Shanahan was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service to the justice system in the Northern Territory.
NT Chief Minister, Lia Finocchiaro reaffirmed her government’s commitment to ensuring a strong and functional ICAC in the Northern Territory.
“Today’s appointment will allow the office of the ICAC to move forward and continue to perform its critical role in ensuring integrity and accountability in the Northern Territory.”
She said Mr Shanahan brings extensive experience and a robust understanding of public sector governance and the ICAC Act.
“His significant leadership credentials will ensure the continuity and integrity of the office,” said the Chief Minister.’
They – both ALP and CLP – don’t want to change Act because it now protects certain people they want to protect. They knew this would happen which is why Greg reviewed the Act in this way. If you remember, school principal Jenny Sherrington was named for a large amount of fraud by ICAC and she wasn’t prosecuted. But she was named and shamed. Clearly this upset and/or worried someone powerful government people so they appointed Greg to ‘review’ the Act which was then passed in Parliament with his amendments. This is the outcome. It’s not an accident.
CLP could scrap the current ICAC Act and write a completely new one if they wanted to, which was more equitable and open, with strong investigatory powers and add enforcement powers instead of just recommendatory ones.
They could set up a truly independent, well funded body to recover the $60 million fraud committed under the IEPS that they created then give half of that recovered money to a new ICAC, with staff from outside the NT with no connection to anyone in NTG, to do their job properly.
They could set a genuine example of what behaviour is not tolerated in Government. Instead they set an example of what is tolerated.
They could do heaps of things…..BUT THEY CHOOSE NOT TO.
The NT ICAC (and everything else) is broken by design. On purpose. Deliberately. Wake up people.
You’re asking the same people who knowingly broke it for their own benefit, to suddenly fix it so they and their mates are exposed more. The same problem is playing out Federally with ICAC-NACC business.
Publicly naming and shaming one person – while great as a threat to move the dial this time – is not going to secure long term change.
We need to change the system.
My husband knows a way to do this. Like changing legislation when you have a Parliamentary majority, it’s really not that difficult.
This naming caper was used down south and it turned into a total shambles ICACS are not courts, only they and dumb journalists think they are.
Oh come on!
Poor old Lia, Now Turn on the music and let’s watch her dance!
How dare the NT community expect leadership!
The CLP won by default, my hats off to each and every person that morally chose not to vote!
A third party will break this ALPCLP coalition of poor, piss poor governance!
No one is more disgusted in this thing that disrespects the office of CM, sadly l was witness to her poor ability and she has never evolved for the better!
My mum use to say “God will get you!” !Lets hope he is watching!
In the Northern Territory Public Service the Recruitment and Selection Policy –
a. The words “interview panel” have been changed to “selection panel” because interviews are not mandatory in the Northern Territory Public Service. Selections to an employment position can be made without conducting an interview by the selection panel.
b. Job applications in the Northern Territory Public Service will be limited to a one-page summary only with an attached resume including contact details for relevant referees irrespective and if a position description has to up ten selection criteria that must be addressed in writing.
c. Selection panel members and delegates of the agency will be impartial, declare and avoid conflicts of interest and have a clear understanding of the level, duties and requirements of the employment role.
d. Selection panels will use eRecruit and standardised NT Public Service selection report templates.