The future of Jamie Chalker's position as Northern Territory police commissioner is expected to be resolved in the next week, the chief minister says.
Commissioner Chalker's position has been under heavy scrutiny since he took pre-approved leave on March 31.
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has reiterated that "ongoing" negotiations with Commissioner Chalker about his future were being done "in good faith".
However, she said, on Tuesday the government wanted the discussions resolved.
"I anticipate in the next week or so that will be achieved," she said.
Last week, Commissioner Chalker's legal representative — Sydney-based reputational risk lawyer Rebekah Giles — released a statement that called for mediation "between the legal representatives of the Northern Territory government and the legal representatives of the commissioner".
The statement called for the mediation to be chaired by an "eminent retired judge from an interstate jurisdiction".
Commissioner Chalker has also retained the services of high-profile barrister Arthur Moses, SC, who has represented a number of high-profile clients, including war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith and former attorney-general Christian Porter.
Commissioner Chalker has been the Northern Territory police commissioner since November 2019, and has dealt with significant challenges during his tenure.
In the statement, Ms Giles's law firm said "ongoing speculation" about Commissioner Chalker's position was not in the interests of police members, the public, nor "a commissioner who has been discharging his duties with integrity".
"It has always been the commissioner's intention to discharge the important functions of his office for the full term of his contract as well as seek a renewal of that contract to complete important reforms which he has implemented," the statement said.
'Double standards'
Commissioner Chalker's proposal for mediation has been criticised by the Northern Territory's police union.
The union's acting president, Lisa Bayliss, said the process being sought was "in stark contrast with the options afforded to the rank and file of the NT Police Force".
"The commissioner is calling on a process that is not available to our members," she said.
"He is seeking fast-tracked mediation using top lawyers, overseen by an interstate judge, while the members of the force are subjected to a protracted dismissal appeals process that can take up to two years just to get a determination.
"These double standards are unacceptable and are causing ongoing harm to the morale and confidence of NT police officers."
In August last year, a police union survey revealed 79.7 per cent of members who responded did not have confidence in Commissioner Chalker.
Blain MLA and former police officer Mark Turner said the ongoing concerns of NT police needed to be addressed.
"While the police commissioner has the right to seek legal representation in order to mediate his contract with the executive government, we must also ensure that the same principles of justice and fairness apply to everyone within the force, regardless of their rank," he said.
"I would suggest most members who are not on executive contracts, [those] officers [who] would feel they've not got the resources to hire high profile Eastern states' silks and are somewhat aggrieved when internal matters affecting their employment can drag on for years, detrimentally affecting them and their families, in some cases to the point of hospitalisation, or worse."
Force 'without clear leadership'
Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said it was "shocking" there had been no resolution to the situation, 11 days after the media reported the government had asked Commissioner Chalker to resign.
She said the situation had left the NT police force without clear leadership.
"While Natasha Fyles is busy fighting Jamie Chalker, territorians want to know who is out there, leading the territory, and who is fighting for safer streets and tougher action on crime," she said.
