Northern Territory Police Commissioner Michael Murphy has been stood down following an Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation that found he acted improperly. The Chief Minister is now facing questions over why it took so long to take action.
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00:00It came in a late Saturday night media release from the Chief Minister.
00:07The Territory's top cop will be stood down effective immediately.
00:11Yesterday I spoke with Police Commissioner Michael Murphy
00:14and informed him that his position was untenable
00:17and that he did not have the support of the government.
00:21An ICAC report released nine days ago finding a senior public executive
00:25now known to be Mr Murphy was negligent and incompetent
00:29when he appointed his close friend to the role of Assistant Commissioner last year.
00:34I've not asked for Commissioner Murphy's resignation.
00:37I've given him the opportunity to resign which he has not taken up.
00:40The Chief Minister was first made aware of the ICAC's findings over a week ago
00:45but Mr Murphy was not named, sparking fierce questioning from the media today.
00:50That's exactly right and as Chief Minister I cannot be breaking the law.
00:57Independent MLA Justine Davis also asking why he wasn't named.
01:02She said she had advice from the Solicitor General that reinforced that
01:05so I'd really love to see that advice because I think we can't be holding questions about these things.
01:10We need as a community to know that we can trust what our Chief Minister
01:14or what our ICAC Commissioner are saying.
01:16Well I met with the Solicitor General and he confirmed the advice provided to me
01:20by the ICAC Commissioner which was that I could not say anything.
01:24Michael Murphy is the second Police Commissioner to make an early exit in two years.
01:29In line with his contract he'll receive six months pay following his termination.
01:33But the circumstances of his departure mean the ICAC is now in the government's crosshairs.
01:39There needs to be reform to the ICAC so that's on the table for this year
01:43but there are other areas that may very well need to be looked at as well
01:48including how we appoint statutory officers.
01:51A Territory Cop since 1997, Michael Murphy served as Commissioner for two years
01:56overseeing the first youth curfew in Alice Springs
01:59and attracting criticism for his handling of police racism
02:03brought up during the coronial inquest into the death of Kumunjai Walker.
02:07But he'll be best remembered for his apology to Indigenous Territorians
02:11for past harms and injustices caused by members of the police force.
02:15I'm deeply sorry to all Aboriginal Territorians.
02:18As he steps out of the limelight, Deputy Commissioner Martin Doll will take his place.