The Country Liberal Party (CLP) ousted Labor in a landslide victory last August on a hard-right law and order, pro-mining platform. It promised to “get crime down”, fast-track major gas and mining projects and give MPs a conscience vote on voluntary assisted dying (VAD).
But despite its thumping election victory, the CLP’s first months in power have been marred by scandal, controversy and public frustration.
No sooner had Finocchiaro enacted the mandatory sentencing laws, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) found the Police Commissioner Michael Murphy guilty of improper conduct.
After an Independent Legislative Council MP threatened to name him in parliament, Murphy outed himself on March 6, while refusing to resign.
After receiving the ICAC briefing, Finocchiaro would not explain why she did not then seek advice from the solicitor-general, refer it for criminal investigation or immediately terminate Murphy. She asserted that misconduct was merely an ICAC “learning tool” for public servants, a response that left her exposed to accusations of a cover-up.
ICAC learned that early last year that Murphy had engaged in “improper conduct” by sitting on the selection panel that helped his friend secure a high-placed job in the police force. It described Murphy’s actions as “negligent and incompetent”.
Amid the growing outrage about her lack of integrity, Finocchiaro finally terminated Murphy on March 18.
Given the jobs-for-mates nature of the ICAC findings, she then had little choice but to order an independent inquiry into dozens of senior appointments made during Murphy’s tenure, beginning August 2023. This period coincides with the CLP’s “tough-on-crime” election campaign.
Murphy left with his full entitlements intact, but his and his boss’s credibility on law and order badly dented.
Territory Coordinator controversy
Needing a win and a distraction from corruption allegations, Finocchiaro announced her signature pro gas and mining Territory Coordinator Bill.
The proposal would give “a public servant” unprecedented powers to override NT laws in the name of paying down record debt. It proved controversial, including inside parliament, and there was widespread public opposition.
Environment groups slammed it as turbocharging environmental damage and “bulldozing the community’s ability to have a say on issues that affect [them]”, and they and pro-democracy activists organised protests outside parliament.
Land Councils called for it to be scrapped because it excluded Aboriginal people, further damaging their already fractured relationship with the government.
Amendments sought by Labor and the cross bench were ignored. NT Greens MP Kat McNamara said on March 19: “The CLP Government not only rejected these amendments, but voted against 15 of the 25 of the recommendations laid out by its own members of the Scrutiny Committee.”
The Legislative Scrutiny Committee comprises three CLP MPs, one Labor and one independent MP.
After a heated debate, the bill eventually passed in the early hours of March 19, with McNamara calling it “a dark day for democracy”.
The list of Territorians and MPs feeling ignored by the new government is growing by the day.
Voluntary assisted dying law delays
Having been robbed of the world-first Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995, Territorians remain incensed at being treated like second-class citizens now VAD has become legal in all other states and the ACT.
Polling since 2018 has shown that more than 78% of Territorians, 84% of Australians and more than 91% of Council of the Ageing members support VAD legislation, also recommended by the 2024 final report of the Northern Territory VAD Expert Advisory Panel.
While Finocchiaro says the pro-VAD wishes of the majority of Territorians are “not a priority”, four CLP MPs have said they support such a law: Laurie Zio (Fannie Bay); Matthew Kerle (Blain); Clinton Howe (Drysdale) and Joshua Burgoyne (Braitling).
As support increases and advocacy groups rally supporters to contact their MPs, Justine Davis, independent MP for Johnston, intends to raise VAD in parliament in May.