NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner says there has been no political interference in the decision to charge Constable Zachary Rolfe with murder and has accused the police union of waging a deliberate campaign of misinformation about the matter.
A jury last week acquitted Constable Rolfe of all charges relating to the fatal shooting of Kumanjayi Walker in Yuendumu in November 2019.
Both the NT Police Association and the NT Opposition have called for an independent inquiry into the decision to charge Constable Rolfe just four days after the incident.
They allege Mr Gunner's comment to a large gathering in Yuendumu shortly after the shooting that "consequences will flow" had the appearance of political interference.
But in his first interview since the jury found Constable Rolfe not guilty, Mr Gunner hit back at suggestions he had any role in the criminal case.
"I had absolutely no involvement in the charges," Mr Gunner told Darwin's Mix FM.
Mr Gunner said his comment that "consequences will flow" was made in the context of a future coronial inquest that would examine all aspects of the incident.
"The union has led a two-year-campaign of deliberate misinformation, which is extremely unfortunate," he said.
Union rejects suggestion of misinformation
NT Police Association president Paul McCue today told Mix FM he had never suggested Mr Gunner had directly interfered in the charging of Constable Rolfe.
"I'm not saying that whatsoever," Mr McCue said.
"It's the perception of what took place down at Yuendumu on the Tuesday after the shooting — perception is reality.
"And he was there, the [Police] Minister was there, he said what he said, and it was the wrong thing to do."
Mr McCue also rejected Mr Gunner's suggestion the union had waged a deliberate campaign of misinformation.
"I am simply representing the concerns we had back then [that] the members represented to us, and they still do today," he said.
"If he wants to take that as some sort of orchestrated campaign, then I'm sorry you are not fit for the job Chief Minister."
During the five-week trial, Constable Rolfe's barrister told the NT Supreme Court his client had been charged before a proper investigation had taken place.
Today, Mr Gunner said neither he nor his police minister had pushed for swift action in response to the shooting, and said it was "appalling" to infer that senior police would be agreeable to such influence.
"We respect the integrity of police," Mr Gunner said.
"That police would even be open to that suggestion is appalling, in my opinion, and a direct attack on them.
"So that's my opinion: the police union attacking police, which is disgraceful."
In responding to calls for an independent inquiry into the decision to charge Rolfe so quickly, Mr Gunner said the coroner was an independent body that would investigate a range of issues surrounding the incident.
The Chief Minister also defended his decision to attend the public gathering in Yuendumu following the shooting.
"We'd been dealing with a community that had unrest for a number of days," he said, noting the decision by nurses to evacuate Yuendumu because of a spate of break-ins prior to the shooting.
"This is a community of 600 people, it's isolated, it was a hotbed," he said.
Since the shooting, Mr Gunner said the government had changed the way it responded to community unrest.
"We know that the safety of nurses is paramount," he said.
"But when there is community unrest, the priority of government now is to surge more resources in to help that community out … not to take staff out."
The Chief Minister was also asked about calls by Constable Rolfe's father for the Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker to be removed from his role.
Mr Gunner said he had "extreme sympathy … for whatever he feels" but said he had "complete confidence" in the Commissioner.
Use of firearms in remote communities questioned
In the wake of last week's verdict, Yuendumu elders called for police to no longer carry firearms in remote communities.
Today, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, June Oscar, added her support to their campaign.
"They continue to call for urgent reforms," Ms Oscar said.
"I stand with them in their ongoing pursuit of justice for all First Nations peoples."
Ms Oscar also called for elders and Indigenous liaison officers to hold decision-making positions in policing matters.
Yesterday, Mr McCue said he didn't support the call, citing safety concerns for officers.
Mr Gunner told Mix FM it was up to police management to decide whether firearms were necessary in communities.
"Police have to have the kit they need and they never know what situation they are going to have to be responding to," he said.
