Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has been named a finalist for the McKinnon Prize for political leader of the year for her “hardline stance” on crime, “channelling public sentiment into decisive leadership” and for doing what most chief ministers do by taking on the role of Police Minister, as questions remain over who nominated her for the award and when.

The group organising the awards says it does not necessarily endorse her policies, despite celebrating them as part of promotion material for the nomination.

Ms Finocchiaro is up against SA Premier Peter Malinauskas and ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr for the prestigious award, that is handed out by the McKinnon Institute and the University of Melbourne. Last year’s winners were Chris Minns and Dominic Perrottet “for their civil conduct and respectful leadership” during the 2023 NSW election.

It is unclear who nominated Ms Finocchiaro for this year’s award, which celebrates leaders who have “driven positive impact” and “inspire others”. Her media adviser claimed “neither the Chief Minister nor her office were involved in the nomination”. The McKinnon Institute would also not disclose who nominated her, but she was nominated a little over one month after being sworn in last year.

“Nominations for the McKinnon Prize are made through an online form available on our website during a two-month window each year, typically October to November,” McKinnon spokesman Chris O’Keefe said.

“We do not disclose who has nominated any individual.

“The process is open to the public and self-nominations are permitted.”

Ms Finocchiaro was sworn in as Chief Minister on August 28, with the full cabinet sworn in on September 9.

She has faced intense criticism from local and national peak bodies, medical professionals, community groups and the federal children’s commissioner for her ‘tough on crime’ policies that she said are not based on any expert evidence, or any evidence they will be effective.

Those policies include reducing the age of criminal responsibility to 10, introducing pepper spray for purchase, arming bus and public housing security with guns, expanding police powers, while also rolling back the changes made in response to the royal commission into the detention of children, including re-introducing spit-hoods, removing the premise of detention as a last resort, and reinstating the use of restraint devices and dogs in youth prisons.

The McKinnon Institute said nominations for political leader of the year are “carefully assessed” by an independent shortlisting committee before being passed on to a selection panel to determine the winner.

“The criteria focus on impact, courage, vision, and the ability to influence policy or public debate; they do not equate to endorsement of policy decisions or political positions taken by a nominee,” Mr O’Keefe said.

“This year’s shortlisting committee and selection panel met in early 2025.”

The committee and panel members are appointed by the McKinnon Institute and the University of Melbourne, Mr O’Keefe added, “and comprise a diverse group of respected Australians from across politics, academia, business and civil society”.

The selection panel celebrated Ms Finocchiaro in material published online for her “bold policies on crime [that] clearly resonated with the electorate, while her quick implementation of policy was a sign of an effective and impactful leader”.

Twenty-one civil society groups recently sent an open letter to Ms Finocchiaro denouncing her ‘tough on crime’ measures, including the Australian Education Union, Anglicare NT, the Catholic Diocese of Darwin, Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT, Catholic Care NT, Justice Not Jails, Public Health Association Australia (NT), the Justice Reform Initiative and the CEO of Victims of Crime NT.

Ms Finocchiaro has routinely said she “makes no apologies” for her decisions and once laughed at a citizen on radio who expressed concerns about guns on public buses, while ridiculing the Territory’s paediatricians for writing a letter of their own, in which they expressed concerns about incarcerating more children.

She has also called anyone who disagrees with her policies “offender apologists” and faced criticism for dividing Territorians through a ‘with us or against us’ leadership style.

Ms Finocchiaro has also faced criticism for rushing through her government’s legislation on urgency on eight occasions and not providing briefings for the Opposition and crossbench, as well as avoiding general scrutiny, including by the media.

Despite celebrating Ms Finocchiaro for her “bold policies” and “hardline stance on the Northern Territory’s widely publicised burgeoning crime issue”, the McKinnon Institute reiterated it did not necessarily endorse the policies they nominated her for.

“We understand and respect that there will always be diverse views about leaders and their record,” Mr O’Keefe said.

“That diversity of opinion is precisely why McKinnon believes it is important to foster open discussion about political leadership in Australia.”

In contrast, Mr Barr was selected as a finalist for promoting action on social justice, economic development, climate change and tax reform in the ACT, as well as committing to energy transition and investing in higher education.

Mr Malinauskas was selected for continuing to grow SA’s advanced manufacturing and science capabilities and for investing in renewable technologies.

Ms Finocchiaro’s media adviser Elle Arnold said the Chief Minister’s Office was “not aware” of how the award process was being managed and that the government “remains focused on its priorities”.

The McKinnon Institute is a non-partisan organisation that offers professional development programs for political leaders that “foster a thriving and vibrant democracy and equip politicians with the skill sets and mind sets they need to better serve Australia communities”.

The 2024 State/Territory Leader of the Year winner will be announced in October at the annual McKinnon Prize ceremony in Canberra.