EDITORIAL: Police Commissioner Michael Murphy has failed to show any leadership during his short tenure as the Territory’s top cop, soiling the position further than we thought possible after his predecessor was done with it, all while disgracing his and his officers’ reputations at every opportunity.
Murphy has repeatedly said it will take courage to rid the force of racism.
What he doesn’t seem to understand is this rules him out of being Police Commissioner. He has proven he is a coward and a liar and a man who buries racism allegations rather than investigate them.
It all caught up to him this week when Murphy was exposed at the coronial inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker, where it was revealed he knew about the existence of the NT Police’s “coon of the year” awards since last August and did nothing to investigate the widespread racism in the TRG unit and police more generally.
To make matters worse, he lied to the public about when he first became aware of the awards.
We can only judge a man by his actions and Murphy’s actions have unfortunately failed to live up to the integrity and respect needed to carry out the role of Police Commissioner.
Then there’s the Lawler Government’s response to all of this and their undying support for Murphy.
Remember back in March, a week after the awards were first made public, Lawler said she would not tolerate racism in the NT?
But a day later, faced with her own Police Minister Brent Potter’s racist past, in which he shared racist, homophobic, misogynistic and anti-Semitic social media posts between 2013 and 2019, (which stopped just before he was hired as a senior adviser in Nicole Manison’s office), she all of a sudden could tolerate racism in the NT.
She has ever since.
Lawler seems to have convinced herself that claiming the offending behaviour is in the past and therefore irrelevant today worked so well defending Potsie that she trotted out the same spin for Murphy.
She told reporters on Thursday that she backs Murphy “100 per cent” and that “some of the things that we’re talking about happened in 2007” and that “everyone” just wants to “move the police forward rather than looking back to stories from the early 2000s”.
The problem for her is the recent misconduct are not old issues for Murphy – or the police. Even if they were, it all needs to come out for the long-delayed reckoning.
Murphy took over for the deeply despised Jamie Chalker on an acting basis in April 2023 and was awarded the full-time gig that August.
That same month, he met with former TRG officer Carey Joy and Action for Alice Facebook page administrator and local businessman Darren Clark, with Joy telling Murphy about the racist awards, what they looked like, that there were videos of award ceremonies and that at least 100 other officers would have documentary evidence.
Murphy did nothing.
When Zach Rolfe made them public at the inquest six months later in late February, Murphy decided to lie about when he was first aware of the awards, telling a press conference he had no knowledge of them before Rolfe raised them in an apparent effort to avoid explaining why he covered up the racism.
He told the inquest this week he just didn’t make the “link” to being informed six months earlier of the racist awards and so the lie was not intentional.
Here’s how we know that’s not true.
Murphy said he spoke to the police executive team after Rolfe dropped the bombshell allegations, but claimed he could not recall if he spoke with Acting Assistant Commissioner James Gray-Spence or Supt Shaun Gill or Supt Greg Garland – but admitted he may have. Those three later that week filed stat decs claiming the TRG awards weren’t racist and are currently under investigation for appearing to mislead the court.
Murphy wants us to believe that while he frantically called around to high-ranking police about the awards on February 26 in full damage control mode, that at no time did he think back to August when Carey Joy sat across from him at Darren Clark’s house and described the awards that a hundred officers had evidence of.
The next day, he came out and lied to the public about never having heard of them before Rolfe raised them.
Lawler says he is to be forgiven for not taking action to investigate the racist awards when he first heard about them and for lying about it because it was so long ago. You know, a few months ago.
It was also revealed that Murphy unilaterally overruled his own Professional Standards Command when they disciplined an acting senior sergeant for sharing a picture of a topless Aboriginal woman on a chat group that included racist and misogynistic comments. Murphy did that last September – a month after failing to investigate serious and credible allegations of racism in the police force.
So, the same month he became the Police Commissioner, he ignored racism in the police force and buried the allegations. In the second month of his tenure he moved to promote a cop who engaged in racist and misogynistic conduct against his own force’s recommendations.
Five months after that – this past February (just over three short months ago) – he rocked up to a press conference and lied to everybody about when he first learned of the racist awards because he didn’t want to explain why he didn’t take racism seriously enough to investigate it.
In Murphy’s line of work, that’s what you call a pattern of behaviour.
If you want a more recent example of wrongdoing, he lied about lying this week at the inquest.
There is no excuse for this. The man who claims he’s stamping out racism in “pockets” of the police force showed us all that not only is he unwilling to investigate racism when it is raised, but that he condones it and promotes people who engage in it.
He is also a coward. At that same press conference in February, he demanded the reporters in attendance suspend reality and pretend that they did not know he was the police executive who had been accused of racially abusing a Chinese restaurant employee roughly 20 years ago because his high-priced silk Ian Freckelton had his name suppressed on his behalf.
He even had the hide to answer a question about whether the person accused of the Chinese restaurant racism – which of course was him – would be investigated, without breaking character. That character being a Police Commissioner not accused of racism.
Instead of owning up to it that day in front of everyone, he slinked away, later telling the ICAC he couldn’t deny saying it but was too drunk to remember racially abusing the staff.
Then there was the shock admission from Murphy at the inquest this week when he accepted that he was “effectively gaslighting” Aboriginal Territorians who had experienced racism by denying there is racism in the police force. He accepted he had done that but that he “has taken steps to enact change”.
It’s truly unbelievable the man is still in the job – even by Territory standards.
The courageous commissioner, who looked very small on the stand, not like a police commissioner but a man they had dragged off the street and put in some blue and brass, begrudgingly admitted, in hindsight, he would do things differently, but only because he had no other option.
He sparked up when he talked about “drawing lines in the stand” and his ambition to have Indigenous people make up 30 per cent of his police force.
Did he consider why Indigenous people would want to work for him considering what he has done?
If Lawler wants to talk historical context on different matters then she should ask Aboriginal Territorians about their historical context with racism in police and government – it’s dark and unsettling and explains why truly stamping out racism is so necessary here.
Mulka MLA Yingiya Guyula’s public statement on the scandal on Friday should also cause alarm for the government and Murphy.
Mr Guyula is not known to shoot his mouth off at the drop of a hat like most politicians. He is a deeply respected Yolngu man and MLA who saves his words for the right time and the right issue.
He said Murphy and the Lawler Government had failed to address racism as a serious problem and a “growing disease” in the police force and that the government’s inaction was a clear sign of how normalised racism has become in the police force, while displaying ignorance of “the damage caused by racism”.
He added that “strong action” is needed now to clean up racism in the police and create genuine partnerships with Aboriginal Territorians.
The only strong action at this point that will show all Territorians the government and police are serious will include Murphy’s resignation.
Even then, we’re left with a Police Minister who shared racist material including how to destroy the Black Lives Matter movement that he was hoping nobody would find out about when he deleted that post and others just ahead of his by-election and a Chief Minister who is so used to defending the indefensible she remarked this week that “if there is any racism in the police force, [Murphy will ensure] it’s stamped out”.
If there’s racism in the police?
Her failure to acknowledge the evidence that has been playing out in public for months is a shocking admission that neither her government or the current Police Commissioner have any clue what they are doing and fail to grasp the gravity of the situation.
When defending Potter the Chief Minister said in Parliament that all but a very few Territorians are guilty of posting racist material to their social media.
If she believes that nonsense, then she confirms apart from a very few, NT Police Officers are guilty of racism.
The Chief Minister and her Police Minister have many many words to spew out but have demonstrated very little action.
NT Labor have not lead by example and shown there will be consequences for racist acts but instead, rewarded both Potter and Murphy.
Potter and Lawler say there is no systemic racism in the NT Police but in the same breath say, if there was it would be understandable because police attend the same intoxicated people day after day for the same drunk crimes. Racism?
The ICAC Commissioner found no evidence of racism in the NT Police force since 2016. Is it possible that since 2026 NT police share offensive material using the dark web or encrypted message services that can not be traced? Who investigates the Police? ICAC reviews the evidence given to them.
There is racism in the NT Police. It does not matter if it is systemic. Even the smallest display of racism by any NT public servant should have consequences. Potter and Lawler have absolutely no credibility in this matter.
Let us start with those public servants and Aboriginal Corporation employees who make racist comments about non-Aboriginals or Indigenous, and what do we do about the Aboriginals who constantly make derogatory comments about the Indigenous they call Yalla Fellas?
We are reaping the results of Woke Public Service policy which has made the work of NT Police virtually impossible.
Heading down the same path as Victoria, Queensland, etc.
Wake Up you FOOLS 🦄🤡💩
I want to know how the CLP will exempt payroll tax when that is a Commwealth issue!
Oh – and how much $ was Chalker and Gwynne paid to stay silent? I am told around $6000000 between them.
And they are crooked!
Payroll tax is an NT government tax.
I would say in the majority, Police are more prejudiced than racist, and that would be due to the same stuff day in and day out. I mean, how could you not be prejudiced in the Territory when a majority of your work deals with the same race, and the same issues.
If you Policed in say Melb, you would probably be prejudiced towards Sth Africans (with all their gangs) for example.
I don’t think text messages between colleagues, be they police or otherwise, are any business of the public. And nor should people be dragged through the mud for dark humour or ranting their frustrations.
There may be racism within the NT Police Force and if there is, it needs to be dealt with. The Lawler Govt has shown they are not equipped to handle this situation – or any really – and I hope the NT votes them out come election time.
How about being a Western Sydney cop?
I’m not from Sydney so I’m not sure what groups cause the trouble, but I imagine Police have their prejudices there also…and rightly so.
Yeah let’s tear another Police Commissioner down because that’s solved the problems. For god sake we’ve had 3 interstate transplants in the recent past. 1 was a successful and well respected COP, Paul White. He came here alone and withstood a lot of malice and disrespect. 2 others came, McRoberts and Kershaw. Both had ego’s as big as Texas. Both surrounded themselves with sycophants and cronies, fishing buddies etc etc. Then after some nonsense from Kershaw leaving for a heart operation ( does he have one?), he is suddenly announced as AFP Commissioner. Then a home grown Commissioner, Chalker, who within days was faced with the death of Kumanji Walker, government meddling and sadly he was not the sort of person who could admit mistakes or be humble. So he was hounded out of the position laughing all the way to the bank. Now we have a Commissioner who admits mistakes and lapses in judgement. He is an NTPol member who has come through the ranks. Of course there has been racism in the NTPol, when old timers mentor young ones, it little bit rubs off but some also dissipates so that from what ICAC can determine it has seemingly stopped in 2016. So I ask is this what we have become, armchair critics. How would we handle things? Is demanding Michael Murphy’s resignation going to change the past? No but it will mean the future of the NT Police will be more tumultuous.
Couldn’t agree more GRL. It’s time to put this crap behind us and start sorting the real issues of the community.
Gagey
I don’t have an issue with the current Commissioner. None are perfect. As long as he has the trust of his officers, he should be able to move the force fwd in the right direction.
The biggest thing moving fwd is for politicians to keep their noses our of police decisions.
The editorial is correct. He has to go. The problem is ALP yes men running the shown. Past commissioners are not todays problem. But lets see how we got to where we are today. Paul as I remember was the start of the era of ALP police policy appointed by Martin. He was instrumental in trashing the Night Patrol which was excellent up to when he took over on that, introduced the Police Media Unit which was the start of us being told only what they thought was in the public interest, speed limits and highway patrol that saw a huge rise in the road toll for the 5 years after compared to the 5 years before, and the list goes on. Paul White replaced Brian Bates who was respected, was not controversial, but was replaced by Labor because they wanted their man.
Brian Bates retired, he was not replaced. Paul White was appointed by Paul Henderson. Police Commissioners do not change speed limits. If I recall, it was the Federal Government withholding funding for road works unless the NT Government changed the speed limit.
McRoberts and Kershaw were appointed by CLP, Adam Giles who was also a questionable character.
On reflecting on his proudest achievements as NT Police Commissioner, Paul White claimed it was him on bringing in speed limits. . He was on the road safety committee and he actually proposed 100km/h until it was pointed out how long it would take to pass a road train at that speed. Presto. Claire Martin said 130 it will be!!!
Off the subject of racism in the police force, why has nothing been disclosed about kids and crime in Katherine. Some of these kids are breaking and entering to instructions from their parents. Some of these kids do not want to go home without the “loot” because they will be in trouble with the dominant parent. Also some kids have formed gangs trying to outdo each other. Isn’t there a way or a law to get on top of this on-going problem?
So Mr Joy met with Commissioner Murphy last year and told him of this despicable culture in the TRG. Proof of video’s, awards and so forth. May we ask if Mr Joy participated in any of this terrible behaviour while he was a member of the TRG? No one seems to answer this question. If he was so offended by the behaviour of his former colleagues, why wait until 2023 to bring it out into the light of day? Oh could it be he has inserted himself in the Rolfe matter and decided to hijack the Coronial. I have asked before and I’ll ask again, how does things that went on in a section of NTPol many years before Zach Rolfe became a member of NTPol excuse his racist and foul mouthed text messages to ex ADF comrades and other serving members of NTPol?
He has been supported and defended by members of the Northern Territory Police but now blames them for his ignorant and contemptible attitude.
Police Minister Potter was a Senior Officer in the Army and blamed the Army for his offensive, homophobic, misogynic and racist posts despite the fact that the Army had very strong consequences for junior soldier who did the same. Zach Rofle was a junior soldier and sent racist and offensive text to other Army mates. Maybe the NT Police should stop employing ex-army soldiers as they have been highly trained to blame the Army for everything they do. Maybe the NT Police and Territorians would be better served by a Police Commissioner and police members who have more balanced life experiences.
Racism as such works both ways. I could not guess the number of times i have been called a “white c###” a white “pri##” and other choice names, at times by kids that need a good smack in the ear.
All of a sudden it is a major issue, one way of course. How about we get on with putting the Territory back on track to being a great place to live or have we lost the plot completely.
Don’t have any time for Murphy because he was one of the pricks that where willing to throw a copper,( who did us all a favour), under the bus.
The antics of the NT Government and NT Police would be the perfect script for a new TV series of ‘Blackadder’
Our family came to the NT when the intervention was in full swing and police officers from other states were being recruited to fatten the numbers. The kids were little and I gave the other half a promise I would give it a go for at least 3 months. That was 16 years ago and many commissioners later I sway between regret and contentment in my decision daily. The accelerated recruit course exposed racism to us within the first six months with one mature age recruit mentioned the term ‘ nigger wash ‘ as a slang word for hand disinfectant in our home at a casual bbq which horrified me as a First Nations person not dark enough for his caution to be more polite. A group swim at the police pool with other police families had me sitting speechless while another interstate recruit pontificated about the indigenous and his perception of their problems until thankfully another interstate recruit challenged this view and restored my faith in wanting to stay. The reality is humans across Australia say stupid shit that is hurtful all the time it’s just a matter of people having the balls to call it out. The ‘nigger wash visitor was never forgotten or invited to another bbq after being thrown out and the pontificater ended up fostering various First Nations children and providing a loving stable home( hopefully with cultural insight to keep those children connected to family and country) . My children are adults now robust and proud of their mixed heritage with a confident – stable view of what’s fair. The NT can be harsh in the arena of race relations but let’s not kid ourselves that we didn’t know this behaviour wasn’t threaded through the NT police because it’s everywhere.