The Northern Territory chief minister, Adam Giles, has been accused of “hiding” from a scandal over allegations of misconduct against the former police commissioner and a top commander.
The Labor leader, Delia Lawrie, questioned who in government knew of the allegations before the commissioner’s resignation last week and said current investigations into the matter would not go far enough.
The police commissioner, John McRoberts, resigned after he was presented with allegations he sought to involve himself in and may have influenced an investigation involving someone with whom he had a relationship.
The operation in question is understood to be a criminal fraud investigation into a travel agent and the chair of NT Crimestoppers, Alexandra Kamitsis. McRoberts has denied he had any conflict of interest.
Just one day later, the acting commissioner, Reece Kershaw, announced he had suspended head of the crime and specialist support command, Richard Bryson, over as yet unspecified allegations relating to McRoberts’ resignation.
Lawrie accused Giles, who has been on leave, of hiding while the furore played out, and asked whether he knew of the potential conflict of interest before a government reshuffle on 12 December when he handed the police and emergency services portfolio to Peter Chandler.
“It is extraordinary that Adam Giles remains missing in action throughout this crisis and has failed to even issue a statement,” she told media on Wednesday.
“In any other state or territory the leader of government would have returned and dealt with this matter [but] Adam Giles is still in hiding. Also a higher level inquiry would be embarked upon rather than what we are seeing here in the territory.”
The opposition leader asked who in the Country Liberal party government was aware of a connection between Kamitsis and McRoberts before the resignation. On Tuesday a CLP minister, Robyn Lambley, revealed that McRoberts “was involved in the initial planning for what the strategy would be around the investigation”.
Pointing to Lambley’s comments, Lawrie said: “Who knew what when amongst the senior leaders of government is a big question.”
Lawrie conceded she had no evidence to suggest Giles had prior knowledge of the allegations but said she was concerned rumours had been circulating before Christmas. She had not heard the rumours herself until the resignation was reported in the media.
Investigations launched by the government also came under fire. The acting commissioner announced on Tuesday that a week-long internal investigation into Bryson was no longer appropriate and said the matter had been handed over the the solicitor general, who will also investigate McRoberts.
It was also revealed that a separate investigation into McRoberts’ actions was being conducted by the Public Interest Disclosure Commission, which investigates allegations of corruption.
Lawrie said the investigations did not go far enough, calling for the release of the commission’s terms of reference and repeating demands for an independent commission against corruption for the territory.
Labor supported calls for a national anti-corruption commission when it was in power before the last election but is now calling for a territory-specific body.
“Two years down the track a national body hasn’t occurred, and we’ve seen a scandal-plagued CLP government for two years,” Lawrie said. “Political donations, high-level political appointments and departures … now the police commissioner’s resignation, surely calls for an Icac in the territory.”
The office of Giles, who remains on leave, has been contacted for comment.
