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.
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.
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.
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles says she has the support of her caucus colleagues to continue in the role despite the out-of-control crime crisis and growing calls for her to stand down, while also defending Attorney General Chansey Paech who was campaigning with NSW Labor members over the weekend while thousands rallied at NT Parliament House to plead for action on crime.
The Fyles Government rejected an Opposition Bill two years ago that would have made it more difficult for repeat and violent offenders to be granted bail, while today pledging to review bail laws in light of the recent stabbing death of a young bottle shop employee, while also killing a proposed public inquiry into police resources despite claiming it will also review police powers.
Labor’s Justice Minister Chansey Paech has told Parliament during a no-confidence motion for failing to keep Territorians safe that the Fyles Government will win the next Territory election and continue to govern for years because the CLP’s disunity is the “best gift” for Labor – with the comments coming two days after a young bottle shop employee was stabbed to death while on the job.
Territory Labor has claimed victory in the Arafura by-election, after its candidate Manuel Brown secured 66 per cent of the primary vote within hours of counting commencing, marking the third straight by-election loss for the Opposition Country Liberal Party.
CLP president Lawson Broad has spectacularly quit the Country Liberal Party just days out from a crucial by-election over the rank-and-file’s decision last month to oppose the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, claiming the party’s position could be “interpreted as racist”.
A 12-month joint investigation by the NT Electoral Commission and the NT’s anti-corruption watchdog into allegations of undisclosed campaign donations to an unnamed candidate in the 2020 NT general election has been closed with no action being taken.
UPDATED: Chief Minister Natasha Fyles and Territory Labor claim they knew about Arafura candidate Manuel Brown’s conviction in relation to killing a woman in 2009 with his car – but chose not to let the public know – and that he will remain the party’s candidate for the March 18 by-election despite his “demons”.
