NTPA - December 2019

Police news The Independent Voice of Police in the Northern Territory

December 2019

NT Officers Named National Heroes this month:

National Police Remembrance Day Commissioner's Message: Challenges of the top job 120: Why the Government can't reach its target

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Fleet Network has been a proud supporter of the NTPA for over seven years.

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South Australia, the Northern Territory and the Australian Federal Police, were victorious in both competitions.

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EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Paul McCue Phone (08) 8995 9520 www.ntpa.com.au

Contents DECEMBER 2019

ADVERTISER ALERT Boo Media is appointed by the Northern Territory Police Association as the authorised publisher of Northern Territory Police News. For enquiries regarding advertising in this magazine, please contact the publishers: PUBLISHER: Boo Media PTY Limited PO Box 19, Narrabeen, NSW 2101 Phone: (02) 8004 8612 Fax: (02) 8004 8611 info@boodigital.com.au ACN: 153 128 860 EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS must be supplied on computer disk with hard copy (or by email to reception@ntpa.com.au) addressed to The Editor, Northern Territory Police News, GPO Box 2350, Darwin Northern Territory 0801.

Northern Territory Police News is published by the Northern Territory Police Association Inc., Level 2, Suite 209 ‘Spirit on The Avenue’ 12 Salonika Street Parap NT 0820. Contents are subject to copyright.

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Organisations which represent sworn police officers’ industrial interests, however, may reproduce any part of the content of Northern Territory Police News without written permission of the publisher.

Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor.

The publisher accepts no responsibility for statements made by advertisers.

DISCLAIMER Boo Media (“Publisher”) advises that the contents of this publication are at the sole discretion of the Northern Territory Police Association, and the publication is offered for information purposes only. The publication has been formulated in good faith and the Publisher believes its contents to be accurate. However, the contents do not amount to a recommendation (either expressly or by implication) and should not be relied upon in lieu of specific professional advice. The Northern Territory Police Association make no representation, nor give any warranty or guarantee concerning the information provided. The Publisher disclaims all responsibility for any loss or damage which may be incurred by any reader relying upon the information contained in the publication whether that loss or damage is caused by any fault or negligence on the part of the Publisher, its directors and employees.

COPYRIGHT All advertisements appearing in this publication are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced except with the consent of the owner of the copyright.

ADVERTISING Advertisements in this journal are solicited from organisations and businesses on the understanding that no special considerations other than those normally accepted in respect of commercial dealings, will be given to any advertiser.

Cover photo: Senior Constable, Mark 'Tiny' Turner and Senior Constable, Linda Farrand receive National Bravery Award

20

NT officers named joint-national heroes

The NT Police Association is proudly supported by:

16

26

Wall to Wall – Ride for Remembrance

Remembering fallen mates

07

President’s Message

08

Southern Field Officer’s Report

09

Northern Field Officer’s Report

10

Industrial News

11

Commissioner's Message

12

120: Why NTG can't reach its target

16

National Police Remembrance Day

20

National Police Bravery Awards

24

Message from Parliament

26

Wall2Wall: Ride for Remembrance

32

Welcome Recruit Constable Squad 136

33

Marking a Quarter of a Century for Squad 55/94

34

NTPA 80th Anniversary

36

Australasian Police Basketball Championships

40

Member Benefits: what's on offer?

41

Goodbye NT Police Club

42

Palmerston's new Cop Shop

43

PCU Opens new Palmerston branch

44

NTPOL role in '99 UN Mission to East Timor

46

Resignations & Retirements

EXECUTIVE MEMBERS

REGIONAL DELEGATES ACPO

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS

Chairperson Michelle Gargan Vice Chairperson Lisa Burkenhagen Secretary Vacant Ordinary Member 1 Ellen Moore Ordinary Mem. 2 Danielle Chisholm

Chairperson Craig Barrett Vice Chairperson Warren Jackson Secretary Lauren Hill Ordinary Member 1 Janelle Tonkin Ord. Member 2 Hege Ronning-Burns

AUXILIARY

DARWIN

Chairperson James Green Vice Chairp. Eileen Kirkby Secretary Sue Seears Ord. Member 1 Melissa Bridgeman Ord. Member 2 Lynette McGrath

Chairperson Michael Valladares Vice Chairperson Nicholas Carter Secretary Vacant Ordinary Member 1 Vacant Ordinary Member 2 Vacant

BARKLY

NORTH EASTERN

Chairperson Darryl Beckmann Vice Chairperson Rowan Benson Secretary Luke O'Connor Ord. Member 1 Vacant Ordinary Member 2 Peter Cousins

Chairperson Benjamin Paterson Vice Chairperson Kim Chambers Secretary Brentley Holmes Ord. Member 1 Peter Hansen Ord. Member 2 Stephen Nalder

BERRIMAH

PALMERSTON

Chairperson Kyle Ferricks Vice Chairperson Tim Hatton Secretary Matt Allen Ordinary Member 1 Alicia Harvey Ord. Member 2 Stephen McWilliams

Chairperson Colin Quedley Vice Chairperson Steve Downie Secretary Peter Birch Ordinary Member 1 Joanna Stephan Ordinary Member 2 Ben Coleman

CASUARINA

SOUTHERN

Chairperson Malcolm Marshall Vice Chairperson Anthony C. Jones Secretary Vacant Ordinary Member 1 Bryan Duffy Ordinary Member 2 Vacant

Chairperson Brodie Anderson Vice Chairperson Philip Emmett Secretary Greg Burns Ordinary Member 1 Vacant Ordinary Member 2 Adam Swift

CENTRAL

SPECIALIST SERVICES

Chairperson Matthew Ridolfi Vice Chairperson Nick Byrne Secretary Leighton Arnott Ordinary Member 1 Stephen P. Jones Ordinary Member 2 John Tickner

Chairperson Neil Mellon Vice Chairperson Troy Harris Secretary Stuart Short Ord. Member 1 Mark Clemmens Ord. Member 2 Michael Budge

PAUL McCUE PRESIDENT

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

OWEN BLACKWELL

CHRIS WILSON

NTPA Office

Alyangula Station

Command Training, Alice Springs

CRISPIN GARGAN

BRETT COTTIER

VICE PRESIDENT

IAN NANKIVELL

TREASURER

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

Drug and Organised Crime

Serious Crime

Wadeye Station

JOSH CUNNINGHAM

LEE MORGAN

LISA BAYLISS

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

Darwin Station

Major Crime

Professional Standards Command

Delegates as at 10 June 2019 *Results from 2019-2021 Regional Elections not finalised at time of printing

KYLE FERRICKS

KIERAN WELLS PATRICK 'PADDY' CARSON

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

Human Resources

Major Crime

Territory Intelligence & Security Division

EXECUTIVE SUB COMMITTEE & PANELS 2018/2019 SIMONE PETERKEN FINANCE COMMITTEE

MEDAL ELIGIBILITY COMMITTEE

Crispin Gargan (Chair), Paul McCue, Owen Blackwell, Chris Wilson, Lisa Bayliss, Patrick Carson, Simone Peterken

Crispin Gargan

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE Owen Blackwell (Chair), Brett Cottier, Lee Morgan, Mark Turner, Patrick Carson

INABILITY/DISABILITY APPEALS BOARD Angela Stringer, Antony Deutrom, Craig Barrett, James Gray-Spence, Jason Blake, Lisa Bayliss, Michael Schumacher, Peter Dash, Stuart Short

INDUSTRIAL COMMITTEE Paul McCue (Chair), Andrea Wyllie, Lee Morgan, Lisa Bayliss, Kieran Wells

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

Child Abuse Taskforce, PMC

TERRY SIMPSON

EXECUTIVE MEMBER Territory Intelligence & Security Division, Alice Springs

PROMOTIONS APPEALS BOARD

NTPA STAFF MEMBERS

Angela Stringer, Antony Deutrom, Craig Barrett, James Gray-Spence, Jason Blake, Lisa Bayliss, Michael Schumacher, Peter Dash, Stuart Short

SELECTIONS/TRANSFER PANEL OBSERVERS COMMITTEE Andrea Wyllie, Steven Langdon

TRAINING AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE Paul McCue, Andrea Wyllie, Patrick Carson

ANDREA WYLLIE

STEVEN LANGDON

PETER STOWERS

KYRRIE BLENKINSOP

Industrial Officer

Northern Field Officer

Southern Field Officer

Communications Officer

UNIFORM & EQUIPMENT COMMITTEE Lee Morgan, Joshua Cunningham

WELFARE COMMITTEE LEGAL ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE Chris Wilson (Chair), Andrea Wyllie, Brett Cottier, Terry Simpson, Joshua Cunningham, Kieran Wells, Simone Peterken

06 NT POLICE NEWS

Paul McCue (Chair), Ian Nankivell, Crispin Gargan, Lee Morgan, Brett Cottier, Terry Simpson As at June 2019

TESSA PRINGLE

ZOEY KELLAWAY

Executive & Compliance Officer

Administration Officer

president's Message

president's Message As we come to the closure of yet another year, I wish to thank all our members for their continued professionalism in what has been another year of constant change, driven in large by budget constraints.

YUENDUMU CRITICAL INCIDENT

I, along with most of the membership, were completely shocked when Constable Zach Rolfe was charged with murder following the critical incident in Yuendumu.

From the moment we were aware of the incident, our primary focus has been with Zach and all members involved.

There remains a lot of questions, and anger, amongst the membership following the charge being laid, and our representatives continue to be available to anyone who has questions or needs a visit to their section.

The offers of support and assistance from not just the membership, but retired members, and the community generally speaks volumes of the support for Zach during this difficult time.

I wish to assure you, the NTPA is providing ongoing legal assistance, and welfare support to Zach, his family and all members involved, and we will continue to do so for as long as it takes.

We are committed to stand with Zach as he vigorously defends this charge in order to clear his name. #NeverWorkAlone #SupportOurCops

NEW COMMISSIONER

With the sudden departure of former Commissioner Reece Kershaw APM, we thank the government for moving quickly to appoint a permanent replacement by the end of October.

The Northern Territory Police Association (NTPA) welcomed the appointment last month of Jamie Chalker APM, as our new Police Commissioner.

Commissioner Chalker has come through the ranks from recruit training in 1994, to now hold the highest-ranking position in the police force.

Importantly from an NTPA perspective, he has served in remote areas of the Northern Territory (NT) both in Central Australia and the Top End, something we see as imperative in the decision-making process which affects our members.

The NTPA look forward to working with the new Commissioner and his Senior Executive team in a collaborative and consultative manner.

The NTPA also acknowledge the work undertaken by Deputy Commissioner Michael Murphy APM while undertaking the Acting Commissioner role. Progress was made on some important matters during this time and we thank him for his open dialog on many of these key issues.

Paul McCue President

The offers of support and assistance from not just the membership, but retired members, and the community generally speaks volumes of the support for Zach during this difficult time.

ELECTION YEAR

As we move into 2020 with a new Commissioner, we also head into another NT Government election year.

Crime and community safety are always high on the agenda and goes hand in hand with policing issues across the Territory.

The NTPA are currently working on a pre-election document which will be finalised and sent to all candidates in early 2020, requesting their stance on issues we see as critical to members, such as remote policing, safety, support, wellbeing and resourcing, to touch on just a few.

With the election date set for 22 August 2020, next year’s Annual Conference will be held on 13 & 14 August 2020, allowing candidates to address delegates just one week prior to going to the polls.

FESTIVE SEASON

With the festive season upon us, we once again thank and acknowledge all our members across the Territory who sacrifice so much to keep us safe during the Christmas and New Year period.

While others are spending this time with their families, many of you are on the beat serving and protecting the community, as sacrifice which we are all very grateful for.

Thank you also to the hard-working staff of the NTPA for another big year working for the membership.

I, along with several of our staff, will be on deck over the Christmas and New Year period so please do not hesitate to call in the event you need assistance.

Merry Christmas and a safe new year to all our members and their families.

Top: 360 on Mix104.9; middle: ABC Radio Darwin; bottom: Channel Nine DECEMBER 2019 07

SFO REPORT

Southern Field Officer’s Report Peter Stowers Southern Field Officer

Another year is coming to an end, and the Christmas season is almost upon us. Looking back over my first year as Southern Field Officer I reflect upon the good things we have, like our partnership with you, the members.

Change and things remaining the same: two things that employees and in particular Police Officers don’t like. Change is upon us and the responsibility to ensure that any transition is negotiated in accordance with our industrial agreement lays with the department. Some changes have been attempted without the agreed consultation and are now before the Police Arbitral Tribunal.

I have responded to many of our members enquires and concerns regarding change, eg; s14B remote transfers and exemption criteria, cancelation of RKE, the Modularized Promotion Pathway and the Leadership Management Pathway, Voluntary Redundancy, Priority Vacancy Consideration for Prior Remote Service, 12% General Police Allowance Remote Incentive and Taskforce Populi – Restructuring/Reshaping the NT Police Force.

As with a lot of our members, even after attending various information sessions, the goals and the ramifications of changes to the promotional pathway and the restructuring/ reshaping the NT Police Force are unclear. By all accounts it is still a work in progress and nothing yet is carved in stone.

Some members have voiced a number of concerns, one in particular that stands out is, the experienced gained of a 10, 15, 20, 25, 30…year constable is not being considered or holds any value when it comes to promotion. Our NTPA staff, executives and delegates are also included in the working groups responsible for some of these significant changes.

STAFFING LEVELS

“We have done so much with so little for so long, that now we can do anything with nothing.”

A moot statement maybe, but like many others, during my police career, I have been caught out working one up when the proverbial has hit the fan. Does the means justify the end? To provide service delivery there appears to be a willingness to take the risk and have our members work one up or having inexperienced and unqualified members working out of scope. Disregard all the smoke and mirror talk, there is a disconnect, “our numbers are right, we are keeping our promise, we are on target”, on the other hand our skinny rosters are saying “no our numbers are wrong, we are struggling, and it is causing major stress within our membership.”

The majority of issues ie; rostering, welfare, leave, forced transfers, training, promotion…etc that are bought to the attention of the NTPA can usually be directly linked to a common contributing factor - current staffing levels.

Southern members can contact Peter Stowers by phone 0488 992 886 or via email peter.stowers@ntpa.com.au

08 NT POLICE NEWS

NFO REPORT

Northern Field Officer’s Report Writing this article, I am taken aback by how quickly 2019 has disappeared and 2020 is about to roll around. It seems like only yesterday it was February and I started my journey with the NTPA.

But now it's December and the jolly man should be shooting down the chimney any day now. So, on that note I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, for those travelling have a safe journey. For those on shift over Christmas thanks for being there to ensure the community is safe.

During the last 10 months I have managed to travel quite a lot of the Top End with plenty more to go. Back in February, travel started with the desert, with a trip to Alice, the Rock and Tennant Creek with the Consent Agreement information sessions. The sessions then moved further north to Katherine, Darwin and out to Nhulunbuy. Groote was given a miss as Cyclone Trevor was expected to come across from Queensland and be in the gulf, so I chickened out, and stayed in Darwin in case we got caught and couldn’t get home. Some may call me soft, I think smart.

As time permitted, I was able to do a number of remote trips visiting members, listening to their concerns and taking a few photos for the scrap book. I have managed to get to Wadeye, Peppimenarti, Daly River, Borroloola, Ngukurr, Numbulwar, Minyerri, Mataranka, Jabiru, Maningrida, Ramingining, Pine Creek, Maranboy, Adelaide River, Kalkarindji, Lajamanu, Yaralin and Timber Creek. I know this doesn’t cover all the Top End stations, but I will work on the rest in 2020. As the Wet rolls in I will be restricted to where I can travel but be assured that once the Dry starts again I will be doing the rounds.

A common theme as I visited stations, both in and out of Darwin, was a lot of members shared the same concerns; rosters, annual leave calculations, long service leave calculations, payroll issues and allowance issues, staffing, and resources.

Although there are a number of stations and units in police that are short on numbers it is pleasing to see the commencement

Steven Langdon Northern Field Officer

of training of 60 recruit Constables. I am sure that they will be a welcome resource once they graduate next May. I, like all of you, am anxious to see what comes of the new Rank Qualification Pathway, hopefully by the time this article hits the press the College will have released to members what the new structure will look like and we will all have some guidance. I have attended several of the information sessions and have certainly voiced my opinion of the slowness and the lack of clarity of the pathway. Commander Porter attended a NTPA Executive meeting on the 3rd of October where he gave me an undertaking that the Rank Qualification Pathway will be released for members to view on the 1 December 2019.

So, as I mentioned, hopefully that has been done and we are all reading it and are able to somewhat plan our Police Careers. If not, I suppose I have work to do to get this sorted before 01/01/2020!!

Please remember, we have all chosen a career that takes us to many highs and many lows as we progress through the years. With the release of the Graduation Day song and the short film Dark Blue, we should all reflect on our family and our Police family. Pay attention to what others are going through and don’t be afraid to step up and ACT, it takes a brave person to act on the behalf of another – it could save a life.

You can contact Steven Langdon directly at the office on (08) 8995 9520, mobile 0428 881 652, or via email at steven.langdon@ntpa.com.au

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DECEMBER 2019 09

Industrial

Industrial News:

Body Worn Video Andrea Wyllie Industrial Officer

On 12 February 2019 an internal broadcast was put out by the Commander, Professional Standards Command advising officers of the requirement to wear and use body worn video prior to and during any encounter where a police power is being utilised unless its impracticable to do so.

Recent events within the Northern Territory have highlighted very publicly the need for members to ensure that they are protecting themselves from any criminal or internal investigations by ensuring they follow the direction that has been given.

Evidence from the United States collated over two decades suggest that there has been a 95% reduction in substantiated complaints against police, increased prosecution success rates for assault police and better offender behaviour during police interactions.

The Northern Territory Police Association supports the use of body worn video and wants to remind members to ensure they follow the direction that has been given to reduce the risk of being called in to question over a police interaction.

NTPA LEGAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME

The Legal Assistance Scheme was last amended at the 2018 Annual Conference and has been established by the Association to offer members funding when faced with certain legal proceedings or to assist with specific disciplinary matters.

1. Circumstances for granting legal assistance Legal assistance granted under this scheme shall be for the purpose set out under Clause 15 or to provide legal representation in the following proceedings: (a) in a criminal matter; in seeking legal advice concerning the merits of any (b) proposed or potential legal or administrative proceedings; (c) at the discretion of the Legal Assistance Committee or President, as the case may be, in circumstances involving: (i) a matter arising under Part IV or V of the Police Administration Act (Disciplinary or Inability action) or an appeal against a decision on such a matter under Part VI of that Act; (ii) in an inquest; or (iii) in advice for a matter involving conflict between two or more members, such as (but not limited to) complaints arising out of the Respect Equity and Diversity framework, but not relating to an appeal or grievance against promotion/transfer. Advice sought in accordance with subsection (2)(c)(iii) shall be initial advice only, and provided by an external legal provider, and be available to both parties subject to the conflict.

Further applications will be subject to consideration

10 NT POLICE NEWS

by the Legal Assistance Committee and a decision by the President, delegate to the President, or the Legal Assistance Committee shall not be bound by precedent.

Members may be eligible for legal assistance, provide that: The matter arose out of any act of omission lawfully and/or in good faith done or made by the applicant in the course of or in the discharge of his or her duties. A member may also eligible for an interest free loan up to $10,000 if facing a criminal charge or is the respondent in legal proceedings that have arisen either wholly or in part because of their employment as a Northern Territory Police Officer.

The President may also grant Legal Assistance for initial advice in a matter that relates to discipline or preliminary advice relating to a criminal matter without having to seek approval from the Legal Assistance Committee.

Ina addition to this notwithstanding the guidelines set out in the Legal Assistance Scheme, the Executive may provide legal funding for any matter it considers to be in accordance with the aims of the NTPA as stated in its Constitution or policy made from time to time.

Further information on the Legal Assistance Scheme can be found on the NTPA website or by contacting NTPA office.

If you have any questions about this or any other matter, please contact me directly either at the office on (08) 8995 9520, mobile 0455 104 148, or via email andrea.wyllie@ntpa.com.au

COMMISSIONER’S MESSAGE

TOP COP prepares for

challenges of new role Hello all, It is a privilege for me to be sending you my best wishes for the festive season as the Commissioner of Police and CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services. Since my swearing in on 11 November 2019 it has been great making contact with many of you and reaffirming my appreciation of all the good things we do as an agency. 11/11 is a day of remembrance and I will forever remember it. It’s been a tough start but one I know we will overcome.

At the heart of what we do is a need to rely on one another, to contribute as part of a team and to feel safe and valued in all that we do. It is my intent to elevate the importance of this across the agency so that we can all be the best that we can be every day. I truly believe this is how we can ultimately serve our community. I will not be able to reinforce this alone and it is my hope that side by side, we will perform our duties with a sense of pride and belonging to an agency that I believe can be a cornerstone for the community that we serve.

It is my intention to bring a fresh start and as part of that, I will be having an initial focus on re-establishing our purpose and direction. Equally, I will be gaining an understanding of our resource allocation and seeking to determine whether our current structure and approach can improve. This is not something to fear and consultation will be a key part of this work.

The community has a high expectation of us and whilst we enjoy strong support ordinarily, I believe we play an important role in reassurance as much as we do ‘to serve and protect’. We need to be highly visible and our engagement must be world leading. Recent events have brought this to the fore.

I have already met with the ICAC Commissioner and it should come as no surprise that my intent is to ensure our workplace is free of bullying, harassment and corruption but also that our culture is such that an individual can operate with the trust of those around them. That trust must accord with common decency, the courage to call out misconduct and poor behaviour, and to set an example of how we would like to be treated.

I know there is much to discuss and to raise with me when we do ultimately catch up. In the interim, I do encourage you to raise issues with your management and/or the NTPA representatives as the sooner I am aware of something, the sooner I can act. I am unable to commit to always providing you with a resolution that you will be happy with however I can promise you that

decisions I make will be objective, fair and considered.

Moreover, I intend for matters that may be a high priority for you to be addressed in as reasonably a timely manner as possible. This is a message I have imparted to the senior executive team.

There is a quote that I like which I have reflected on many times over my working career that may assist you in understanding where I plan to take the agency with your support. It goes ‘the pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.’ (William Arthur Ward) For this contribution, I will keep it short and simple.

Thank you for all that you do, and I would like to pass on my appreciation to those that will be working over the festive season that enables so many in our community to enjoy it. For those that are taking a break, I wish you an enjoyable time away to recharge.

Take care, enjoy the time with family and friends and see you in 2020. We have an exciting year ahead including celebrating our 150 years.

Jamie

Commissioner Jamie Chalker is sworn in by Acting Deputy Commissioner Michael White

DECEMBER 2019 11

POLICE NUMBERS

120 EXTRA OFFICERS: A brief, but confusing, history...

And why the government can’t "technically" reach its target Kyrrie Blenkinsop Communications Officer

Back in 2003, Labor commissioned a review into the Northern Territory Police Force, which was undertaken by former Queensland Police Commissioner, Jim O’Sullivan. This is where the now infamous 120 ‘extra police’ first arises. Interestingly, the report suggests “a challenging target of 120 recruits per year” to make up for the 1991 – 1994 recruitment freeze.

A Ministerial statement from then-Labor Police Minister the Hon. Paul Henderson MLA on the 12th of August 2003, initially committed to that ambitious target, earmarking $75m for the “Building our Police Force Plan”. The Police Minister promised 200 extra police on the streets by the end of 2006: “This will be achieved primarily by the Government providing sufficient funding so that police can recruit and train 120 constables a year”, he said.

A media release in May 2005, quoted Paul Henderson saying, “The Martin Labor Government’s record police recruitment campaign is delivering results for Territorians with 120 extra police now on the beat and more on the way”. There were, in fact, 163 extra police in the 2004 – 2005 NTPFES annual report compared with the 2002 – 2003 financial year. That means 163 extra police recruited in just two years.

Fast forward to 2012 – and yet another review of the NT Police Force is ordered “A Review of Northern Territory Police Resource Allocation, Efficiency, and Operational Capabilities” (or “O’Sullivan II”).

This time, there’s no actual recruitment target but suggests at least 200 additional Constables and above be added to General Duties establishments, split up as follows: Darwin Metropolitan Command +100, Alice Springs Division + 50, Northern Command, Remote Policing Pool + 20, Southern Command, Remote Policing Pool + 20, Selective Remote Stations + 8. This would be achieved, the report says, through the 120 new Police positions committed and some 80+ Police positions reallocated from civilianisation over a two-year period.

The report is finalised by December 2012, months after the NT election, but isn’t tabled in Parliament until May of the following year.

In the lead up to the August 25, 2012 Territory election, the 120 number is again wheeled out by the Country Liberals.

The CLP emerges victorious and a media release from newly elected Chief Minister Terry Mills just a few days later promises “the recruitment of 120 extra frontline police to the Force over the next two years will ease the burden on existing officers as well as reduce crime.”

We are not, however, given a clear explanation for this nowdistinct pledge, remember “O’Sullivan II” isn’t finished until a 12 NT POLICE NEWS

few months later. As history dictates that commitment is never reached. Not in two years, not over the CLP’s term of government.

In August 2017, Mills is quizzed on ABC radio Darwin about the origins of the CLP’s version of the 120 promise. “We came up with that number in opposition, we had a careful look at the numbers, we made a commitment to improving frontline policing and we did talk to the police association at the time and through our analysis of the ebb and flow of numbers we determined that 120 got the police force, particularly the frontline, up to what was adequate to achieve our objective,” he told host Richard Margetson.

It’s difficult to work out the exact moment Labor decides the 120 extra officers will become its modern-day election battle cry, but nevertheless, in the lead up to the 2016 poll Labor sets out to piggy-back on the CLP’s broken promise.

Thing is, the CLP’s promise was to have 120 delivered by 2014, over a two-year period – but Labor moves the goalposts to the end of the next term, which is August 2020. Eight years after this new promise of additional frontline officers.

So, to re-cap: we have another promise of 120 extra police officers made in the lead-up to the 2012 election, which isn’t met by the CLP, but instead duplicated by Labor in the lead-up to the 2016 election, with an additional two years for recruitment, which is based off the 2011 – 2012 NTPFES Annual Report. Still following?

What’s also interesting about then-Opposition Leader Michael Gunner’s pre-election commitment is that it includes a promise to fund the previously Federally funded Metropolitan Patrol Group (MPG): “If elected, Territory Labor will fully fund the 94 metropolitan patrol group and add an additional 120 police. (Michael Gunner, Territory Labor Leader, media release 19 April 2016).

This is probably one of the last times we hear about funding the MPG. An online search of the NTG Newsroom website brings up just two media releases, both from early 2016, before the current Gunner-Labor government was elected. There’s also no mention of the Metropolitan Patrol Group in any of the Agency budget papers between 2016 and now. What has happened to that election promise Mr Gunner?

Separate to the commitment for 120 extra police officers, we see the introduction of Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors to undertake Point of Sale Intervention (POSI) duties. As a sidebar, the NTPA recognises the great work these officers are doing, however we continue to maintain they should not be working alone, this is a failure of government to recognise the safety of our members should be put before the saving of a dollar. We also continue to fail to see how the liquor industry contributes nothing to the cost of policing their own private licenced venues. But that is for another day....

For the record, NT Labor has said the 120 additional police doesn’t include the PALIs. They are over and above the additional 120 frontline. We do understand how people can be confused though, just look at the bizarre rationale which can be somewhat explained when Michael Gunner was quizzed during Estimates (this particular exchange is from Wednesday 13 June 2018 – edited for brevity).

MR WOOD: Following on about police auxiliaries—and you know I have a different opinion of my view of the Riley report. I do not believe you have followed the Riley report. You have passed legislation which allows police auxiliaries to be licence inspectors, will they be part of the 120 extra police?

MR GUNNER: No, they are additional. They are not police.

MR WOOD: So, why should those who are doing a

licensing inspector job be paid for out of the police budget and not out of either the industry or some other budget? My concern is that Riley did not say they should be police…

MR GUNNER: They are not police.

MR WOOD: He said, ‘This will reduce the pressure on police’… That in plain English means they will not be police. But they are now police.

MR GUNNER: No. They are police auxiliaries, not police.

MR WOOD: But I just asked will they be part of the 120 extra and you said they would be.

MR GUNNER: No, they are not. They would not be. No, they are not part of the 120. They are additional to the 120.

MR WOOD: Regardless, they are still police.

MR GUNNER: They are police auxiliaries taking pressure

off police.

Police Auxiliaries are sworn members of the Police Force. Fact.

Earlier in the same year (March 2018) the Independent Member for Araluen, Robyn Lambley, moved a motion for an Inquiry into the Northern Territory Police Force (which was ultimately voted down) which would include “current staffing levels; current challenges in the recruitment and retention of staff; the allocation of staff; police communications; the role and responsibility of police; police resourcing; and the current risks and demands of the job.

Given the success, or lack of, of the 2012 police resourcing review the Association isn’t interested in another idle review – but has for some time been calling for a clear and detailed picture of exactly where our members are being deployed.

We’ve been told by Police Minister Nicole Manison that “NT Police have a record budget, more officers, and more resources than ever before.” (media release 26 April 2019). So, where are those officers? Why are our members telling us they are constantly back-filling positions, acting up in higher duties, or struggling to get more than 2 vans on the road per

shift in our major centres because of a shortage of numbers?

Why is overtime still required on such a regular basis to fill holes in rosters?

In the same police inquiry motion debate in March last year, the Chief Minister, and then-Police Minister, said “We want consistent recruitment that police can plan around .. The police will know with confidence how many police they will be getting’.

Despite this promise, we’ve seen a double squad of 60 recruit Constables jammed through the Police College to graduate next May, a whisker out from the 2020 election.

It’s worth noting, this time last year there were no Constable recruit squads due to go through the College in 2019 as a result of budget constraints. We are pleased, however, to see the new squad commence; but it should be noted that double squad also includes 15 Auxiliary, PALI or Aboriginal Community Police Officers (ACPO) who are transitioning, which means there are effectively 45 new recruits.

Now, back to the technicalities. On April 26, 2019 Police Minister Nicole Manion put out a media release with a headline that screams “CLP Doesn’t Know Fact from Fiction”.

One line, in particular, clarifies the government’s stance.

"The Territory Labor Government will have 120 additional frontline officers recruited by 2020 – plus an additional 75 Police Auxiliary liquor inspectors."

The use of the word ‘frontline’ is central to the whole argument on sufficient police recruiting. Auxiliaries are not considered frontline. There was also the government’s ambiguity during the Executive Contract pay freeze debate, around whether officers at the rank of Commander are, for all intents and purposes, considered ‘frontline’.

So, by that rationale, based on the 2018-19 Annual Report of 1537 sworn officers: if we remove all Auxiliaries, and officers at the rank of Commander and above and add the 45 new recruits going through the College as part of Constable Recruit Squad 136 – the government is actually still 154 officers away from their target of 1494 frontline police.

And that’s before we lose, on average, around 35+ officers from the force between now and August 2020 through natural attrition.

The whole issue is a dog's breakfast to state it bluntly, as politics and the interpretation of numbers inevitably is. But regardless of how the numbers are analysed, NT Labor needs to prove they have achieved what they set out to achieve. And from the Association’s perspective, we’re not sure they have, or will.

Throw out the numerical target – 120 is an out of date, out of touch, redundant and obscure figure that should have been updated and inflated substantially to reflect the increased burden place on our members since Terry Mills made the 120 promise eight years ago.

To the next government, of whichever persuasion, it’s simple. Make sure you’re recruiting enough police to fill all positions across the department, while ensuring a regular and consistent recruitment program exceeds attrition.

A number is still very accurate, but its role is changed. In the changed role this number enriches the silence.

Dejan Stojanovic, Serbian Satire and Aphorisms

DECEMBER 2019 13

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Police remembrance

NT POLICE PAY TRIBUTE TO FALLEN COLLEAGUES 16 NT POLICE NEWS

Delegates at Conference

Police Remembrance Day service in Katherine

With the 2019 National Police Remembrance Day falling on Sunday 29 September this year, the traditional march was held on Friday 27 September through the streets of Darwin and Alice Springs, with other services taking place across the Territory.

The day allows us all to pause and remember our fallen colleagues who have died in the execution of their duty or died whilst on duty, as well as the sacrifice police make every single day, and reflect on the important work police do to keep the community safe.

In Darwin, hundreds attended the service to pay their respects as we remembered not only the historical loss of police members, but the recent passing of three current serving officers in the past 12 months, Senior Police Auxiliary Kim Johnson, Police Auxiliary Melanie Maka and Constable Melanie Tyndall.

This year in Alice Springs, the traditional march was followed by a service which included remembering the loss of Aboriginal Community Police Officer Austin HamptonTungutalum in December of 2018.

As we pay respect to our fallen comrades from the Territory and across Australasia, National Police Remembrance Day also allows us to pause and remember what it is to be in the policing family, ensuring no matter what, no one stands alone. It is a challenging job, and dangerous at times, so it is important we look out for each other and our families, and stay safe.

Dignitaries attend Police Remembrance Day service in Darwin

DECEMBER 2019 17

police remembrance CON'T

18 NT POLICE NEWS

DECEMBER 2019 19

BRAVERY AWARDS

Senior Constable Linda Farrand, Senior Constable Mark Turner, Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton

COURAGE ON THE CLIFF’S EDGE

By Brett Williams It was a quiet evening at home with their families or a risky negotiation job on a clifftop. Two NT cops took option two, which almost cost them their lives. Their reward was the National Police Bravery Award.

20 NT POLICE NEWS

It had taken seven intense hours of negotiation on the edge of a Darwin clifftop above croc-infested waters. Two Northern Territory Police negotiators appeared to have resolved a serious case of threatened suicide. The determined young man they had negotiated with since early the previous evening seemed finally dissuaded from jumping to his death.

Throughout the previous hours, he had either sat or stood on a rock of less than coffee-table size protruding from the top of the cliff face. And negotiator Mark “Tiny” Turner had seen the folly of any attempt to grab him. “With him on that rock, there was no way we could’ve got him without risking him jumping,” Turner explains.

But Quinn (not his real name), dressed in only his underwear after burning his clothes, had now stepped back from that insanely dangerous position. Indeed, he had knelt beside plain-clothed Turner and Linda Farrand, both Senior Constables and seasoned members of the NT Police Negotiation Unit. Farrand, 44, had acted as the primary negotiator throughout the preceding hours of dialogue.

Outwardly calm but running on adrenaline, she and Turner covered the shivering Quinn with a blanket. And, at that point, after all those hours, they thought they had at last made some serious headway. “We’d got something out of nothing,” Turner says. “We’d got that physical contact with him, and he wasn’t pulling away. He had now gone from zero to probably about seven out of 10 in the trust level he’d given us.”

But, after only “a matter of seconds”, Turner could see that “something just changed about his (Quinn’s) demeanour”. It was a critical observation, and entirely accurate. Turner, who had served in three different police forces in two hemispheres, could tell from Quinn’s body language that “something was wrong”.

And, sure enough, without warning, and seeming to have made the decision to end his life, Quinn went to jump. His frighteningly sudden move left Turner and Farrand just a fraction of a second to react. Quinn was so close to the edge of the cliff in Bicentennial Park that he needed neither a runup nor a single step to launch himself.

But Turner did react in that fraction of a second. He grabbed the solidly built Quinn around his waist and fell deliberately backward with him at the cliff edge. Farrand grabbed him as well and yelled for help from GD (general duties) cops stationed on nearby cordons.

Turner – called Tiny because of his massive frame – faced an overwhelming challenge to restrain the squirming Quinn, who was wet and slippery. That was the result of sprinklers which had activated in the lawn just north-west of the Darwin Cenotaph during the negotiation process.

So Turner, 36, had to produce Herculean strength to maintain his bear hug on the tattooed, 80-plus kilogram Quinn. And, to brace himself, he planted his foot against a rock he had noticed sticking up out of the ground at the cliff edge.

But it was crucial that he not lose, or even loosen, his grip before the back-up police reached the imperilled trio. Were Quinn to break free, he might just have been able to roll himself straight off the cliff. “There was just no margin for error,” Turner says. “At that stage, it was that moment of: ‘Now we need help!’ Linda was calling for help and trying to control him as well.

“I was trying to hold him as tight as I could. He was trying to fight against us. My biggest worry was that all he had to do was be able to roll, and then we’d have just gone (over the edge).”

Quinn was certain to take Farrand with him if he did manage to break free of Turner and body-roll off the cliff. In fact, Farrand was already thinking: “Tiny, don’t let go of him because I’m the first one to go.” The risk of all three plunging to their deaths was extreme. From the cliff edge, the drop was around 20 metres into the croc-infested waters below.

To Farrand, it seemed – as it usually does in critical incidents – as if it was taking forever for the GD cops to get to her and Turner. “Come on, guys,” she thought. “Where are you?” “But, in reality,” she says, “they were there in a split second.”

Those officers, Todd Lymberry and Mark Creighton, had bolted from their position near the cenotaph, jumped a barrier and charged directly toward their colleagues. Once there, they grabbed Quinn and dragged him backward, away from the cliff edge. Territory Response Group (TRG) members had been standing by at the scene and helped carry Quinn over to his distressed mother and a waiting ambulance.

As close calls go, that dramatic ending at the cliff edge was, to most observers, off the scale. Indeed, for Turner and Farrand, it was the closest call of their police careers; and neither would ever again see or interact with Quinn. “After the job finished, I went and had a dry retch,” Farrand recalls. “I gave Tiny the biggest hug because, not only did he stop that young lad going over the cliff, but he stopped me going over too.

“Then, in the days after, you think: ‘Who would’ve suffered if we went over (the cliff)?’ But that’s cast to the back of my mind, and I can’t think about it.”

Turner watched footage of the incident recorded on a bodyworn camera. What he saw put the risk he and Farrand had faced into its proper perspective. “That’s when I went: ‘Oh, f-k! That was close!’ ” he says. “It was one of those where you think: ‘It could’ve gone horribly wrong.’ But you don’t have time to think about that at the time.”

Nor was there much think time after for Turner and Farrand after they got WhatsApp messages around 7pm on Tuesday, June 11. The on-call police negotiators were at their respective homes, deservedly whiling away the hours with their families.

To them, however, an after-hours message to request that they respond to a job was never a surprise. Farrand had served the NT Police Negotiation Unit for 10 years, and Turner for five. And that was in addition to their day jobs – Turner an investigator with the Domestic and Personal Violence Command and Farrand a school-based officer.

The message they got, and responded to, that evening came from on-call police negotiator Sergeant Renae McGarvie.

She had herself received an after-hours message and was to end up acting as not only the team leader but also the incident controller.

At the scene, where GD officers had been the first to respond to the job, the three negotiators wisely got some info about Quinn from his mother. She (the mother) had alerted police to the incident with a 000 call before GD officers found her son at the clifftop.

The story was that mother and son had arrived in Darwin from interstate a day or two earlier for a break. Quinn, aged in his twenties, had apparently had some difficulty with substance abuse and a relationship breakdown.

DECEMBER JUNE 2019 21

BRAVERY AWARDS CON'T With at least some knowledge of the man they would set out to save, and an ambulance crew standing by, Turner and Farrand got to work. They had decided that Farrand would take the primary negotiator role. Turner says:

“We didn’t want to scare him off with me being a big lump who was capable of trying to grab him. We wanted a softly, softly approach, and then to let him get to know me, calm down, and see where we’d go from there.”

So, the pair walked “very passively” toward Quinn, as McGarvie kept a line of sight on her two negotiators from around 50 metres away. They could see that Quinn had stripped off his clothes and jewellery. He had burnt them with a cigarette lighter. Says Turner: “With this chap, we both immediately picked up on the same thing: ‘He’s committed to doing this.’

There was an immediate sense of urgency from his body language, what he was saying, and how he was acting.”

Farrand, who could see that Quinn was not armed, went about her first attempt to engage him from behind the fence just back from the cliff edge. “At first,” she says, “he didn’t want me getting too close. He was totally reluctant about me coming over the fence, so I had to gauge whether I was going to do that or not. “I decided I was going to, and I let him know.

I said: ‘I’m going to come over but I’m not going to grab you.

There’s no way I can grab you.’ ” Farrand assured Quinn that she and Turner were not some “fantastic talented team” which would swoop in and save him.

That was a means of making him “understand and relax”.

And McGarvie saw her negotiators’ actions, then and later, as entirely correct. “It was impossible for them to engage with him without approaching him in that manner,” she says. “I trusted in their risk assessments and their safety assessments of the situation.”

A critical move early in the incident was to get the okay from Quinn for Turner to join Farrand on the cliff side of the fence. It was important to afford him that measure of control.

And, without an “immediate negative response” from him, Turner jumped the fence and sat next to Farrand.

“When we started at 8:00 in the evening,” Turner says, “the tide was out so, if he had gone over, he would’ve hit the rocks.

It wouldn’t have been a search and rescue. It would’ve been a body recovery.”

But, the focus for Turner and Farrand, from the moment they turned up, was to establish a connection with Quinn. And, with their vast experience of suicide attempts, the two cops got him talking, through the evening and into the next morning.

“He’d fallen asleep on one occasion, so we let him rest.

And we were able to rest ourselves because we were just running for hours on pure adrenaline.” One point at which their adrenaline truly surged had come earlier, about halfway through the incident. Quinn stood up on the rock, wobbly and shaking. Farrand, still outwardly calm, thought: “This is it!”

As he looked out over the cliff, he asked her: “Why isn’t it happening?” In her best effort to keep him calm, Farrand responded: “It’s not your time yet. It’s not going to happen tonight. It’s not your time. Come back from the cliff.”

But more hours would pass before Quinn would voluntarily step back from the rock beneath his shaking body. “There were 22 NT POLICE NEWS

(L to R) NTPA President Paul McCue, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, Senior Constable Mark Turner, Senior Constable Linda Farrand, PFA CEO Scott Weber, Chief Opposition Whip Chris Hayes, NTPA Senior Vice President Owen Blackwell

some general, fleeting comments about pain and suffering,” Turner recalls. “But there were never words like: ‘I’m going to jump now,’ or ‘I’m going to do this because of X, Y or Z.’ ” And some of the circumstances of the incident made the working environment even tougher for Farrand. Heights made her “very uncomfortable”; she struggled with sleep deprivation; and she had a dislike of “small critters and animals”.

The involvement of a small but wild animal that evening might have seemed unlikely. But, after around five hours on the cliff edge, an apparently fearless possum appeared out of the night and joined the three humans. As uncomfortable as it made Farrand, the creature gave her and Turner a minor breakthrough. It sparked a response from Quinn, who tried to feed and generally interact with the animal.

“Suddenly, we had interaction,” Turner says. “We just needed something to connect with him (Quinn), and this certainly gave us that ability. “We’d spent so long fishing for different things, and he just wasn’t giving up anything.”

In a move to capitalize on the positive input of the possum, Turner fetched some dry food from the Negotiation Unit van.

Equipping Quinn to feed the possum helped keep that connection in play. “Linda was doing her best not to jump out of her skin with this possum wandering around her ankles,” Turner says. “It just goes to show that random things will pop up and you’ve just got to seize the opportunity when you can get it.”

As useful as the possum connection had been, it was still not enough to get Quinn to step back from the cliff. That was to come two hours later, when he was shivering and accepted the comfort of the blanket Turner and Farrand wrapped around him. Then, of course, came his sudden attempt to throw himself off the cliff.

Says McGarvie: “I heard the scream from Linda and ran over at the same time that TRG and the two GD officers ran over. I helped grab him with the others. “As soon as I could see that they had him in hand, there was the reality of what could have happened, and the shock of how close it was.”

And, if not for the massive risk at which Turner and Farrand placed themselves, Quinn would almost certainly have died. That was clear to McGarvie and others acquainted with the incident.

Around 4am, as dawn drew near, the work of the two heroic cops was done. Although they could finally draw breath without the pressure to connect, the risk of falling, and the bursts of adrenaline, each was still “so wired”.

Both headed to Darwin police station to attend to paperwork. After that, Turner went out for coffee. Farrand headed for home, where she showered and changed into uniform and went back to work for day shift. “There was no way I was going to sleep,” she says. But, by lunchtime, her superiors had stood her down.

Police Negotiation Unit sergeant Michael Budge considered that Turner and Farrand had acted so courageously that he nominated them for the National Police Bravery Award.

“In the end, they put themselves in that danger to get a result, to save his life,” Budge says.

From an Australia-wide field of around 70 nominees for the bravery award, Turner and Farrand emerged joint winners.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton presented each of them with the award at a gala dinner at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra last month.

The humble recipients felt somewhat embarrassed but deeply flattered by such high-level recognition.

“It’s a very complex set of emotions,” Turner says, “because this is our bread and butter of what we do. “To have this attention, especially when there were 70 other nominees, it just makes you realize what we do (in policing).”

The Police Federation of Australia (PFA) conceived and inaugurated the peer-nominated award last year. PFA president Mark Carroll saw the actions Turner and Farrand took on that cliff as “perfectly aligned with the award”. He says:

“I’m sure it makes some people shudder when they picture the scene and think of the extraordinary risk to Tiny and Linda’s lives.”

“What saved the day was obviously their bravery but also their quick thinking and competence as police negotiators. “It was exactly their kind of courage we wanted to reward when we conceived the National Police Bravery Award.”

And that the PFA was the source of the award meant a lot to Turner. “The PFA has taken the lead on this,” he says. “This award was created by police, for police and is from police. It recognizes our brothers and sisters in blue, regardless of rank or jurisdiction. “So, this (award) means more to me than any other one could.”

DECEMBER JUNE 2019 23

From Parliament

Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services Hon. Nicole Manison MLA, Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services

Firstly, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all our police members for the important work you have done throughout the year. You help make our communities safer and better places and you have some strong results to point to which demonstrate the commitment to your jobs and the Territory.

We have seen a historic change at the top of our force this year after we farewelled Commissioner Reece Kershaw APM as he embarked on his new career with the AFP and welcomed back Jamie Chalker APM as the new Commissioner of NT Police and the CEO of Fire and Emergency Services.

Jamie, a born and bred Territorian, joined the NT Police Force in 1994 and spent more than half his career policing outside Darwin in areas of general duties, remote policing, criminal investigations and executive roles.

I am particularly pleased to appoint a local to the top job, which demonstrates the quality of the Northern Territory Police Force.

The Territory Government continues to focus on tackling alcohol-fuelled crime and antisocial behaviour and reducing property crime and trauma on our roads and we know Jamie will lead the force in continuing to tackle these areas.

I also want to recognise and thank Deputy Commissioner Michael Murphy APM for his strong leadership while

24 NT POLICE NEWS

As the year comes to a close, I want to reflect on the achievements of the Northern Territory Police Force this year.

Acting Commissioner. He has done a great job during this transition period.

We also said farewell to Deputy Commissioner Grant Nicholls who retired in November.

During his time with NT Police, Grant made a significant contribution to the modernisation of the NT Police digital capability which included the radio network, mobile devices, body-worn video and facial recognition technology.

He also completely reformed the Dog Operations Unit which now provides world-class training in-house.

We thank Mr Nicholls for his tireless work within the NT Police and wish him all the best in this next chapter of life.

Executive leadership was not the only thing to change this year.

The much anticipated $30million Palmerston Police Station opened its doors for the first time and has been well received by members and the community. The station, which was designed by police, is without a doubt the best in the country and will continue to service the needs of Palmerston for decades to come.

We also saw the continued roll out of the 75 Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors (PALIs) – who are achieving amazing results in tackling alcohol-fuelled crime and violence – the ongoing work of the $40million SERPRO replacement for PROMIS and the continued installation of over 400 CCTV cameras across the Territory. And it has been the first full year back with school-based policing, and we have seen some great results in that area.

With the New Year upon us, I would like to touch on where my priorities in 2020 lay as your Police Minister.

I want to build on the good work which has seen assaults at 10-year lows in the Territory and continue to tackle property and youth crime.

We are about to reach our target of 120 additional frontline police and when we do, I will be working with the Commissioner on a sustainable recruitment model to keep these police and PALI numbers up.

In 2020, we also anticipate the completion of the Nightcliff Police Station, and work to begin on the new Ngukurr and Maningrida station.

And I want to make sure we continue work to support you. Policing is tough work, and I want to make sure we have the right supports in place around our member’s wellbeing.

While I know a lot of you won’t get much rest across the holiday period, I again want to thank you all for your tireless work and we wish you and your family a safe and happy festive season.

Opposition Leader The CLP Opposition is enthusiastic about the future of policing in the Territory. The last few months have been challenging in various ways for police, but have also provided reasons for great optimism.

Gary Higgins MLA Opposition Leader

The

recent appointment and confirmation of Reese Kershaw APM as AFP Commissioner shows the high esteem and confidence that Australia holds for Territory police.

Similarly, the recent appointment of Jamie Chalker APM as Commissioner of Police is extremely encouraging and inspires great confidence that excellence in Territory policing will continue for years to come.

Mr Chalker is the first Territory-born Commissioner of Police and a highly decorated officer with over 20 years of experience in Territory policing. The new Commissioner has also spent more than half of that time working in remote communities, from Groote Eylandt to Hermannsburg. Most recently, he has served as Assistant Commissioner and CEO of the Department of Local Government, Housing and Community Development.

This background, particularly his leadership roles and remote policing experience, will stand Commissioner Chalker in very good stead in dealing with the issues currently confronting the agency.

Police resourcing is always a concern, but is more critical at a time when crime and offending levels are high.

As I’ve made clear many times previously, policing is demand driven. When increasing demand is placed on police, without an accompanying increase in resources, police feel the pressure.

There are real questions about whether the Government can or will reach its 120 new constables election commitment, but that is entirely beside the point. It is an arbitrary number and says nothing about the job satisfaction, opportunities for professional development or work load of officers. We need much more than 120 new constables, we may need other policies, support and incentives to both attract new recruits and retain existing officers.

Should the CLP be fortunate enough to win government, we will commit to working closely with Commissioner Chalker and the Police Association to ensure that our officers have the support and tools they need to do their job effectively and efficiently.

We will institute measures to keep our officers safe by discouraging assaults and promoting wellbeing.

Rather than dictating police policies that have been thought up in isolation, by political operatives without consultation – a CLP Government will work in conjunction with police to develop policies that help protect Territorians and supported by sufficient resources and backing to make those policies successful and ones that meet community expectations.

A CLP Government will work with police to ensure that, for those that choose to serve in rural and remote areas, that option is an attractive one.

We will work with the Commonwealth to ensure that funding arrangements for

remote police are sufficient to provide a quality of life and work environment that is not a burden for officers, but an attractive opportunity for gaining valuable experience.

Most importantly, a CLP Government will leave operational matters to police and not micromanage the job of policing in the Territory. The job of government is to make policy in consultation with police and other stakeholders and provide sufficient resources to carry out those polices. The job of the police is—and should be—to find the most effective and efficient way to implement those policies.

The job of policing in the Territory has never been so demanding, but I know that our police will rise to that challenge.

The past year has brought challenges, as well as remarkable accomplishments. As we move into the 150th year of NT Police in 2020, we have an opportunity to both recognise the past accomplishments of police and chart a new future for the force. I am honoured to be in a position to support and promote the magnificent job that each of you do on behalf of Territorians each day.

Be safe and thank you for your service.

DECEMBER 2019 25

Wall to wall

NT Long Riders entering Kings Park in Canberra

WALl to WAll:

The Long Ride from the Top End to the Nation's Capital

By NTPA Senior Vice President Owen Blackwell On Thursday 5 September I was again part of a group of riders and support vehicles that left Darwin to participate in the 10th Annual Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance.

In all, 15 bikes left Darwin with three support cars, 22 participants in all.

The ride was the 9th ride that NT riders participated in.

NT police members were joined by extended family in this year’s trek, providing an extension to the camaraderie that comes with participating in the ride.

The ride went across to Queensland and down through New South Wales 26 NT POLICE NEWS

with stops at Dunmarra, Camooweal, Winton, Anaki, St George, Tamworth, Cowra and Cooma for a couple of nights before we rode into Canberra on Saturday 14, joining over 2,500 other riders from around Australia.

My support vehicle unfortunately had a mishap between St George and Moree, so my cousin James and I got to spend an extra night in Moree and Tamworth before catching up with the crew in Cooma.

If anyone has been considering the necessity of roadside assistance with AANT – I am now their poster boy given they covered towing from where we broke down in to Moree, then on to Tamworth as well as accommodation and a hire car!

In Cooma, we were able to participate in a presentation to former member Michael Sharkey of his Australian Police Service Medal.

I was very honoured to present the medal to Michael on behalf of the NTPF and the NTPA. The baton carrier for this year was S/C 1/C Craig “Boof’’ Hamilton, who laid the baton at the National Police Memorial Wall in Kings Park, Canberra during the official ceremony.

NT Long Riders at National Police Memorial

This year being the 10th Annual ride was poignant with commentary from Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy from NSW who along with former Vicpol member Brian Rix had the idea to start the ride back in 2010.

Their vision has produced an annual event that stops Canberra for a few hours each September to honour and remember our colleagues who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

We will remember, we will remember.

Hasten the dawn.

Next year’s ride is already in its planning stage and anyone interested in participating should contact Steven Langdon at the NTPA Office for more information via email steven.langdon@ntpa.com.au or phone (08) 8995 9520.

Top: Richard Cheal (right) and Scott Manley; middle: The Victoria Police Association President, John Laird, addressing riders; bottom: Riders from across Australia at the National Police Memorial

DECEMBER 2019 27

Wall to WAll CON'T

RIDE FOR REMEMBRANCE:

By Shirley Hardy-Rix

Coming Together in our Sacred Place to Remember Mates Riders came from around Australia to celebrate the 10th annual Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance in September, as part of National Police Week.

From humble beginnings, the Wall to Wall Ride is now the largest event on the national police calendar. In its 10th year more than 2,000 riders came together at the National Police Memorial in our nation’s capital to remember fallen colleagues, raise money for police legacies and promote safe and legal motorcycling.

In 2010, the inaugural Wall to Wall Ride saw 524 riders come to Canberra to take part. It was seen as a major achievement by the two officers who started it all: New South Wales Assistant Commissioner, Mick Corboy, and then Inspector, Brian Rix, from Victoria. Over the years the ride has grown with almost 16,000 people taking part. There are 27 riders who have participated in all 10 rides.

NT Long Riders at the Darwin Police Memorial on the Esplanade

28 NT POLICE NEWS

Delivering the Commissioner’s Dedication at the National Police Memorial, Mick Corboy explained, “We recognised that this place, this sacred place was where we need to gather and remember our mates, our fallen comrades whose memories are enshrined forever here.

“Remembering our mates. That has become the call sign for those that leave their special and honoured walls of remembrance. They ride for hours, days or weeks to make the trek to this special place and to honour the courage, the commitment, the dedication of those fallen colleagues and ensure our actions keep them alive in our hearts and the hearts of their families forever.”

The laying of batons on the memorial has become an integral part of the Wall to Wall Ride commemoration. Created by retired NSW Superintendent, Stan Single, made from wood representing each state and territory, each states’ baton carries the names to be added to the National Police Memorial and are delivered to Canberra by riders.

“They (the batons) represent the soul of the event. They carry not only the names but notes of love from broken families. They have become a symbol of this ride and how special it is.”

Iconic Australian singer/songwriter John Schumann composed the song Graduation Day as part of the Police Federation of Australia’s mental health and well-being campaign. His performance of the song was a poignant and moving end to this year’s ceremony. (You can download a copy of the song at www.pfa.org.au) The Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance ceremony is a time for reflection. A time for remembering mates. It will take place again on September 12, 2020. We hope you can join in this special event at the special place that is the National Police Memorial.

Mick Corboy, New South Wales Assistant Commissioner

This year a 10th year commemorative baton was created by Stan Single. Inside the baton was a letter from Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The PM, the son of a policeman, praised the riders and their solidarity in remembering those who have lost their lives. “I hope you find some peace and comfort in this pilgrimage, knowing that our community is grateful for everything that has been given to keep us safe.”

The baton will be housed in the foyer of the PFA building in Canberra, a symbol of the significance of the Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance to Australian police.

Wall to Wall Ride Committee Chairman, Senior Sergeant John Laird told the riders the ride has not been without its accidents and tragedies. “Last year Senior Sergeant Vic Kostuik was killed as he made his way to the wall with the Victorian contingent. Today provides us an opportunity not only to remember Vic and the 794 names on this wall, but the many thousands that we have collectively worked with who are no longer with us.”

John Laird encouraged riders to visit the National Police Memorial website and read some of the stories of the unsung heroes.

“If you follow the deaths from the first recorded death, the murder of Constable Joseph Luker, on August 26 1803, right through to those names added this year, it paints a very vivid history of not only Australia’s policing, but our country’s own history,” said Senior Sergeant Laird.

Every rider and pillion who take part in the Wall to Wall Ride pay registration fees. Over the 10 years more than $1 million has been raised for police legacies by the riders.

HOW EACH JURISDICTION WAS REPRESENTED Well over 2,000 riders took part in this year’s Wall to Wall Ride. They came from every state |and territory. Some rode for just a few hours to get to Canberra. Others took over a week.

Here is where they came from:

Each state and territory baton is laid on the memorial as part of the service. This year the Northern Territory baton was laid by Senior Constable 1/C Craig Hamilton

AFP/AusPol 177 NSW 1094 Northern Territory 32 Queensland 321 South Australia 117 Tasmania 48 Victoria 439 22 West Australia

DECEMBER 2019 29

Advertisement

The year that was: 2019 Blink and you’ll miss it. 2019 has flown and, as we approach our 50th year, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on another successful year of key highlights and milestones, from exciting access changes to new sponsorships and new awards.

MOVE TO PALMERSTON

Earlier this year, we made the move to Gateway Shopping Centre, Palmerston. This exciting decision gave us the chance to create a brand-new fitout for our Members in the Top End, and the opportunity to plan a branch that lends itself to servicing you, better. The new 65sq/m branch is located at Shop T57, Gateway Shopping Centre in Palmerston City, has a free coin-counting machine, advanced video communication and employs five full time staff including a dedicated Relationship Manager, David Hair, who travels in excess of 300kms a day to visit Alice Springs, local police stations and Members living across the territory.

Our Members will continue to receive the same face to face, friendly, local and personalised service but in a new, modern and convenient branch that has been specifically designed with service in mind. Our team is loving their new space and, from all the positive feedback from our Members, we can only assume you are, too!

On 28 October, we officially opened our branch with special guests including Members, the Minister for Police, The Hon. Nicole Manison MLA, Member for Brennan (Palmerston) Tony Sievers MLA, Acting NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy and NT Police Association President, Mr Paul McCue, and our own CEO, Mr Costa Anastasiou and Chairman, Alex Zimmermann in attendance.

TURNING 50

We turn the big five zero in February, 2020. We’ve grown significantly since 1970, from a small group of police officers combining their funds to provide loans for struggling colleagues, to a trusted, reliable multi-award-winning Credit Union with over 40,000 Members, and seven branches in SA and NT. Your credit union launched with 14 Members and a deposit balance of $86. It then quickly grew to include NT Members in 1975 after the Cyclone Tracy disaster. Four years later, the first branch agency was opened and expanded to include insurance products in response to rapid growing membership. The current branch now services over 4,000 Members including 760 police.

ACCESS IS KING

We understand that convenient access to your money is crucial, so we continue to ensure that we provide you with secure, state-of-the-art access options 24/7.

This year, we upgraded our Banking App. Now, it’s better to look at, and better to use. We’ve made it easier to view your accounts, transfer funds and pay bills. Plus, with the introduction of Secure Messages, you can send speedy and confidential messages to us directly from your smartphone inbox and we can send you a response!

These new channels join Fast Payments, digital wallet including Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay, and more in our suite of better access options making it easier for you every day.

AWARDED FOR BEING BETTER

We are very proud to announce that, after receiving awards in 2016, 2017 and 2018 for our outstanding products and services, we’ve done it again!

Earlier in the year, our home loans were compared against home loans from other financial institutions and reviewed by the experts at mozo.com.au, one of Australia’s most visited comparison sites. We were awarded a 2019 Mozo Experts’ Choice Home Loan Award for our Better Home Loan for investors.

In November we were also presented the Mozo Experts’ Choice Personal Loan Award for our Fixed Rate Car Loan, as well as our Solar Eco Loan which is a Variable Rate Personal Loan that can be used to fund the purchase and installation of solar energy products such as solar photovoltaic (P.V.) panels, home battery systems and solar water heaters.

BETTER NOW AND IN THE FUTURE

Our positive results from the 2018-2019 financial year, continue to reflect our dedication in always doing better for our Members with another high Member Satisfaction Rating of 93.1%, asset growth of 9.1%, total assets of $1.135 billion and a profit after tax result of $4.852 million. One of the most exciting results that truly reflects our passion to achieve better for our Members is our Member Value figure at $271.87 per Member, or a total of $10.7 million for the 12 months to 30 June 2019, that’s an increase of 6.2% from the previous period.

At Police Credit Union we continue to focus on putting the owners of our business, our Members, first. In 2020 and beyond, we will continue to deliver market-leading value propositions through a range of flexible and highly competitive financial products and services whilst contributing to the ongoing support of our communities.

Our milestone achievements from the past year, are outlined in more detail in our 2019 Annual Report which can be accessed on our website policecu.com.au and in branch. We look forward to another successful 50 years of better serving you, our Members in the Top End. Apple Pay works with iPhone 6 and later in stores, apps and websites in Safari; with Apple Watch in stores and apps; with iPad Pro, iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 and later in apps and websites; and with Mac in Safari with an Apple Pay enabled iPhone 6 or later or Apple Watch. For a list of compatible Apple Pay devices, see https://support.apple.com/km207105 Apple, the Apple logo, Apple Pay, Apple Watch, iPad, iPhone, Mac, Safari, and Touch ID are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Touch and Face ID available on an iPhone or iPad. Android, Google Pay, and the Google Logo are trademarks of Google LLC. Payments using Google Pay are available for NFC enabled phones running on Android Lollipop 5.0 or above. Samsung Pay is a trademark or registered trademark of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Source: https://mozo.com.au

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NEW RECRUITS

Recruit Squad 136

Welcome Recruit Constable Squad 136 The NT Police Force is poised to receive a welcome boost to the frontline, with a mammoth double squad of 60 Constable Recruits sworn in on Friday 18 October 2019.

The squad is made up of 45 new recruits and 15 officers who are transitioning from Auxiliary, Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspector (PALI) and Aboriginal Community Police Officer (APCO) positions.

After 30 weeks of training, the new recruits will graduate in May 2020.

32 NT POLICE NEWS

SQUAD REUNION

Marking a Quarter of a Century for Squad 55/94

By Executive Member Lisa Bayliss It has been 25 years since Squad 55 commenced training in September 1994. The squad initially consisted of 36 men and women, of which 10 remain serving with NTPOL: Trent Abbott, Lisa Bayliss (nee Manzie), Antony Deutrom, Craig Garland, Michelle Garton (nee Meurant), John Gregory, Katie Hatzismalis (nee Glazebrook), Jamie O’Brien, Ellen Pocock and Robert Whittington.

The weekend began with a celebration at Parliament House to remember Squad 55/94 as the only Police Force in Australia to conduct honour guard duties for the first sittings of the Legislative Assembly at the newly built NT Parliament House.

As retired Sergeant Gary Casey reminded us over a few drinks, we had only been employed a few short weeks when the direction came in that the new recruit squad would need to be trained in less than two weeks to conduct these duties, (which had been declined by the defence force on account of insufficient time for preparation and training). Thankfully we exceeded all expectations and we have a place in history.

Our evening at Parliament House was hosted by NT Police Minister the Hon. Nicole Manison MLA, who not only extended an invitation to allow us to use the venue for our gathering and provided some refreshments, she also kindly posed for photographs with the Squad and retired Sergeant Gary Casey on the steps of Parliament House.

The weekend also included a tour of Darwin harbour with Water Police, lunch and dinner catchups with a lot of reminiscing by all.

No longer serving with the NT police who attended the weekend events were Kat Baird (nee Allen), Leigh Cahill (nee Bowers), Matthew Grant, Kerry Harris, Nicole Fausett (nee Wood), Rob Read, Michael Ward and Michael Wilson.

Unable to make it were Robert Albertson (Rab), Kathy Batten (nee Lewis), Andrew Craig, Matthew Dwyer, Darren Goldsworthy, Matthew Hall, Paul Humphrey, Benjamin Koster, Anne Lahey (nee Mannion), Virginia McLean (nee Dixon), Darren McLean, David Tarrabia and John Walker.

Squad 55/94 in 1994 (below) and today (top)

DECEMBER 2019 33

80 YEARS STRONG

Eight decades of working together to protect our future In 2019, the Northern Territory Police Association proudly celebrates its 80th Anniversary. Eighty years of working together to protect our future, 80 years of standing together, side by side, so no one is forced to stand alone.

The NTPA's rich history commenced just two months after the declaration of World War II, when the inaugural meeting of the Association was held on November 12, 1939.

Back then, it was a small group of bright and visionary officers who decided to formalise their ‘strength in numbers’.

A brave Constable, Jim Mannion, put up a motion to create the Association and 80 years later the NTPA is still representing the interests of its members.

"J.J.Mannion was the prime mover, and initiated the establishment of the NTPA in an attempt to introduce reform into the management of rank and file members most of whom I am told were required to work unpaid overtime and 12 days per roster. Naturally this proposal met with considerable resistance from the Public Service and the Administrator who at the particular time, held the rank of Commissioner of Police. In 1940 J.J.Mannion enlisted in the Army, and the establishment of the proposed Association lapsed until 1946 when he once again resumed the challenge. J.J.Mannion had an integrity which could never be questioned and was often said to have a tenacity which was almost an obsession. Retired members who served with him from the early fifties agree his attitude promoted at all times the letter of the law, absolutely no compromise.”

Retired Police Association (RPANT), 2005.

Following the bombing of Darwin on 19 February 1942 and the evacuation of most Police to other centres, the Association ceased to function for the remainder of World War II but was reborn in July 1945 at a meeting held in a school at Alice Springs. Sergeant RR Bridgland became the new President.

In 1948, the Executive of the Association started to lobby for the formation of a Police Arbitral Tribunal. The Minister approved the application and Judge Wells of the Northern

34 NT POLICE NEWS

Territory Supreme Court was appointed the first chairman in 1949. The Police Appeal Board came into existence at the same time.

Unfortunately, the devastation of Cyclone Tracy (1974) resulted in the loss of a number of records, particularly those from the 1960 and 1974 period which hampers our recollection of this time.

In 1979, the Association was incorporated and appointed its first full-time employee in the same year.

The NTPA purchased its own premises in Lindsay Street (Darwin) in 1986 which was the Association's home until its move to 5 Foelsche Street in Darwin's CBD. In 1996, the NTPA Constitution was changed to permit Commissioned Officers to join our Association. The Constitution was further amended in 2004 making the elected President a full-time employee of our Association (Vince Kelly APM), bringing our Association in line with other Police Association and Unions across Australia.

The Association's August 2014 move to a new commercial office building in Parap paved the way for the development of the Foelsche Street site and a strategic investment to further strengthen the NTPA's future.

To mark this historic anniversary, the NTPA has produced a special anniversary video, which is a snapshot of memories and reflections of past and present members – and a chance to reflect on the successes and challenges of the past 80 years, as well as a chance to explore the future of our Association.

Members can view the video by logging on to www.ntpa.com.au. You can find it under ABOUT >> History >> 80th Anniversary

“Long term, I think, the most important thing is to remain financially viable and to ensure that we have a long term, relevant place in the lives of our members.”

Crispin Gargan, NTPA Treasurer

“No one can understate how important the level of membership is amongst police officers in all our dealings with government and senior police management. The fact of the matter is that when whoever happens to have the privilege of being President of the Northern Territory Police Association speak, unlike others, we are actually speaking on behalf of the whole workforce... government simply can’t ignore the whole workforce and if they do, it’s at their peril.”

Vince Kelly, Former NTPA President, and Life Member

“There’s an old saying and it’s probably a cliché “unity is strength” and if you don’t join, you simply expose yourself financially, legally because simply the relationship that police officers have when they’re employed” Gary Manison, Retired Police Association NT President

The one thing that stuck home (during sign up to the NTPA as a recruit) was the support you would have if something was to go wrong, but I think also knowing that you’re part of something bigger, it’s a family.”

Lisa Bayliss, NTPA Executive Member

“When you look at the Association’s history and how long we’ve been around, it would have been really hard for those members (who started the NTPA) to foresee that the kind of and the size of the Association that we have here today, but I think the values that guide us are still essentially the same today as what the Association started with.”

Patrick ‘Paddy’ Carson – NTPA Executive Member

“We have, for a long time, advocated strongly to not always necessarily get gains, but protect the working conditions and ensure fairness across the board and I think we’ve done that really well and we continue to do it today. It’s not just about money, it’s not just about conditions, it’s about being there for a mate at their time of need."

Paul McCue, NTPA President

1. NTPA Executive nomination form 2 & 3. Historical NTPA Police News magazine covers 4. Hand-written minutes from first official NTPA meeting 5. Former NTPA President and Life Member Vince Kelly, and Former NT Administrator, John Hardy AO opening new office 6. Historical NT Policing photo

DECEMBER 2019 35

SPORT NEWS

Members of the NT Basketball Association

Australasian Police Basketball Championships

By Det. Snr/C Kelly Livingstone The Northern Territory Police Basketball Association (NTPBA) participated in the annual Australasian Police Basketball (APBA) Championships held in Canberra in October 2019.

Approximately 250 police officers, representing jurisdictions from each state and territory of Australia, the Australian Federal Police and our compatriots from New Zealand, attended the championships. The tournament included men’s and women’s teams, ranging from former National Basketball League members to social players who competed in various divisions.

This year NT Police had a total of 16 touring members at the championships with both the men’s and women’s teams putting in a gallant effort placing them in finals. The men’s

36 NT POLICE NEWS

team faced South Australia for the grand final play off and the women’s team proceeded to the semi-finals in a threeway tie.

NT Police members, along with their interstate and international colleagues, also attended the Canberra Children’s Hospital in full uniform to present gifts to sick children and brighten up their day. They played games and brought smiles to everyone’s faces with the help of AFP therapy dog ‘Barry’.

Top: NT & VIC women's team; bottom: Women's group photo; right: Men's competition

Members attended a variety of official and social functions with the opening function held at the Australian National Museum and the formal closing function held at the National Arboretum, where medals were awarded and the All Star Five were announced for tour.

This championship was unique in that the APBA created games history with the women’s Division 1 grand final being completely officiated by women: all bench officials, umpires, coaches, team managers and players were female.

The week was a huge success providing members an opportunity to extend their working networks whilst enjoying the company of our fellow policing families.

Next year the tour is headed across the Tasman with the New Zealand Police Force hosting the games between October 4th to 9th 2020.

Any members wishing to tour, expand their social networks, play basketball and enjoy a great week with their colleagues can contact the NTPBA via Kelly.livingstone@pfes.nt.gov.au for more information.

This year NT Police had a total of 16 touring members at the championships with both the men’s and women’s teams putting in a gallant effort placing them in finals.

Left: AFP therapy dog ‘Barry’; right: Mascot 'Snappy'

DECEMBER 2019 37

Advertisement

Common myths about separation and property settlement Nick Mules, Senior Associate | Tindall Gask Bentley Lawyers

When it comes to separation, divorce and the issue of property settlement there are some common misconceptions which can cause stress and confusion.

1. DIVORCE AND PROPERTY SETTLEMENT ARE THE SAME THING.

Put simply, getting a divorce is the process of becoming unmarried. The sole ground for divorce in Australia is demonstrated by 12 months separation.

Divorce and property settlement are not one and the same. Separated parties can have a property settlement without getting divorced and parties seeking to divorce do not necessarily have to have a property settlement.

However, once the divorce is granted a party has only 12 months to commence proceedings in the Court for property settlement. De facto couples have 24 months from the time of separation to institute Court proceedings. There are circumstances however, where the Court will allow a party to make an application for property settlement out of time.

2. THERE WILL BE A 50/50 SPLIT OF PROPERTY.

Untrue.

Property settlement generally follows a four-step process which the Court will follow when determining such an application: 1. To identify the assets and liabilities of the parties and determine their value; 2. To consider the contribution of the parties, both financial and non-financial, and contributions to the welfare of the family; 3. To consider the future needs of the parties, primarily as set out in section 75(2) of the Family Law Act (Cth); and 4. To consider whether or not the order proposed is ‘just and equitable’.

3. WE DO NOT NEED TO FORMALISE OUR PROPERTY SETTLEMENT.

In short, formalising your property settlement is the only way to prevent your former spouse from making a claim for property settlement at some stage in the future. Even if they are technically 'out of time' your spouse may apply for an extension of time at any time in the future, which the Court may grant.

Furthermore, once leave is granted the usual approach for the Court is to take into account the value of assets at the time of the hearing. That is irrespective of the time since separation, even if, for example, that was 20 years. Obviously, there may be valid arguments to be made regarding post-separation contributions but there is no certainty as to how a Court may view the matter.

4. SUPERANNUATION IS NOT AN ASSET.

Incorrect.

Prior to the introduction of the Family Law Legislation Amendment (Superannuation) Act 2001 (Cth) superannuation was not treated as property except in specific cases. Since the

introduction of the legislation, superannuation now falls within the definition of ‘property’ under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) and is dealt with in the context of property settlement.

How superannuation is dealt with is complex, given there are many types of superannuation funds such as accumulation funds, defined benefit schemes and self-managed superannuation funds. They are all treated slightly differently and so it is imperative legal advice is obtained.

Whilst not advisable, it is possible to resolve some aspects of property settlement, such as the transfer of real property, without a Court order. This is not the case with superannuation interests. A superannuation fund will require a Court order before a superannuation split can be affected.

4. THERE IS A TIME LIMIT TO MAKING A CLAIM FOR PROPERTY SETTLEMENT

The Court has the discretion to grant leave to a party to apply for property settlement out of time.

In the decision of Veggs & Riggs (No. 2) [2015] FamCA 911 Justice Watts granted leave to the husband who had instituted proceedings 20 years after the parties had separated. Ultimately, the Judge held that the husband would suffer hardship if leave was not granted and the wife was not prejudiced by the delay in the proceedings.

In considering whether or not to grant leave to proceed out of time the Court considered the decision of Whitford (1979) FLC 90-612, wherein the Full Court said:“Thus, on an application for leave under section 44(3), two broad questions may arise for determination. The first of these is whether the Court is satisfied that hardship would be caused to the applicant or a child of the marriage if leave were not granted. If the Court is not so satisfied, that is the end of the matter. If the Court is so satisfied, the second question arises.

That is whether in the exercise of its discretion the Court should grant or refuse leave to institute proceedings”.

In summary, whether or not an application to apply for leave out of time will turn upon the facts of each case. Nothing is certain and members should always speak to a lawyer about the specifics of their own situation.

If you want to ensure your loved ones are taken care of, and your wishes are honoured after your death, it is vital you get legal advice. Tindall Gask Bentley offers two-for-one standard Wills* to new and expecting parents, including NTPA members. Make an appointment today by calling 8941 7814 or visit www.tgb.com.au

NTPA’s legal services provider lawyers The firm offers a full range of legal services.

Discount legal service for current financial NTPA members and their families.

Receive 20 minutes free preliminary advice on all legal matters.

We also offer a 10% discount on any legal fees for:

The NTPA works in partnership with leading law firm Tindall Gask Bentley (TGB) to provide members with access to first class legal services.

• Workers Compensation, • Motor Vehicle Accident Compensation, • Family and Divorce law, • Estates and Estate Planning (including Wills), • Business and Property, • Criminal and Disciplinary.

Established in 1970, TGB has grown to become South Australia’s largest plaintiff law firm and has now expanded to Northern Territory and Western Australia.

To book an appointment with a lawyer or for more information please contact the NTPA office 08 8995 9520 or email ntpa.tgb.legalservices@ntpa.com.au

p: (08) 8941 7814 e: ntpa.tgb.legalservices@ntpa.com.au 1/21 Cavenagh St Darwin, Darwin NT 0800 w: tgb.com.au JUNE 2019039

MEMBER BENEFITS

Member Benefits: Take advatange

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One of the many advantages of being an NTPA member is access to our exclusive Member Benefits Program, that provides access to the following deals and discounts from trusted brands. To find our how you can take advantage, visit www.ntpa.com.au and log on to the members-only portal. If you have specific companies or brands you’d like us to approach for deals, please contact Communications Officer kyrrie.blenkinsop@ntpa.com.au

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Our members and their families can enjoy 20 per cent off the best available rate at any of the four Hilton Hotels in the Northern Territory

THE ASIA COLLECTIVE

The Asia Collective is offering the following deal to you and your 'travel partners in crime' - 30% off the premium Bali dining guide 'Hungry in Bali'. The guide includes 43 must-visit venues and 3 heavenly spas that cannot be missed across Seminyak, Canggu, Ubud and the Bukit Peninsula

TINT-A-CAR

NTPA Members are being offered 25% off the RRP of home and auto tints

40 NT POLICE NEWS

CICADA LODGE

NTPA Members can enjoy a 10% discount when booking into the 100% Indigenous-owned ecoresort Cicada Lodge, just 32 kilometres from Katherine, or 10% off any Nitmiluk product

SPOTTERS SHADES

NTPA Members are being offered special pricing on one pair of Spotters Shades per 12 month period

CASIO WATCHES

Casio is offering NTPA Members special discounts on G-Shock and Baby-G watches

NANDOS

NTPA Members can now enjoy discounts at any NT Nandos restaurant

BMW

NTPA Members can now take advantage of corporate discounts through BMW

MINI

NTPA Members can now take advantage of corporate discounts through Mini

MANTRA

NTPA Members can take advantage of 10% off all rates. Mantra offers two centrally located hotels in Darwin’s CBD, Mantra Pandanas and Mantra on the Esplanade

OFFSHORE BOATS FISHING CHARTER

Offshore Boats is offering NTPA members a discount of $25 per person, on any shared/ scheduled fishing charters

HATS BY THE HUNDRED

Iconic Australian and International hat brands stockist Hats by the Hundred is offering NTPA members 10% off all orders. Hats by the Hundred stock hats, belts, wallets and accessories from brands including Akubra, R.M. Williams, Ace of Something and Cancer Council

health NT police Club

The Final Shout – Goodbye NT Police Club

By Mark (Solly) Soligo, Committee Member, NT Police Club Incorporated The NT Police Club Incorporated was first established 40 years ago in 1979. In 1985 the club re-located to the 1st Floor at Berrimah, with the opening of the then Berrimah Police Centre (later known as PMC), where it remained for almost 35 years. In early 2018 The Police Club was unexpectedly forced to shut its doors, due to a major cool room failure that occurred during renovations works being done at PMC at the time. It was thought that this closure would only be a temporary and the new management committee was working on rebuilding.

Initially PFES offered the NT Police Club the opportunity to permanently relocate to the yet to be completed Multi-Purpose Training Facility, located near the pool area at PMC. Plans were well underway for this move to occur and the club’s management committee were looking forward to the new opportunities that the new location and facilities would offer. At the last minute and very unexpectedly, despite all the planning and promises made, the (now former) Commissioner Reece Kershaw revoked his promised offer for the club to relocate to the new facility; then, as the final nail in the coffin for the club, PFES gave notice that it was reacquiring the area the club had occupied for 35 years, in order to convert it into office space. This left the clubs management committee little choice but to close the Police Club permanently, ending 40 years of history.

On Friday 7th June 2019, the final NT Police Club Inc. Committee meeting was held. On the agenda were two very important motions. The first motion was to officially put into action the official dissolution of the NT Police Club Inc. after almost 40 years. A very sad day indeed.

The second and most important motion was to determine how the clubs remaining (and significant) funds should be distributed. It was decided by the Committee that all remaining funds (after payments of any final accounts) should be donated, in full, to NT Police Legacy Inc. It is estimated that in the coming months the NT Police Club Inc. will be able to donate to NT Police Legacy Inc. an amount in excess of $70,000. An impressive figure.

As disappointed the Committee was that we weren’t even able to hold a final farewell for the old club, I’m sure nearly

all of you will have many fond (and maybe not so fond) memories of attending the club at some stage in your careers. The Police Club has been home to many a birthday function, retirement function, graduation function, just to name a few.

There have been fights, debates, make ups, romances, break ups and everything in between (it’s probably a good thing the walls can’t talk, there would be some wild stories), but the one thing it was was a safe place that members, in particular Police members could come together out of view of the public to relax and debrief.

The characters that have graced the club over the last three plus decades are what made it. In its day the place pumped and was a mandatory destination for any member visiting Darwin.

On behalf of the last Management Committee of the NT Police Club Incorporated, we want to say to everyone who has ever had drink, played a game of pool or darts, watch a state of origin or attended the many many events that club has hosted over the past 35 years, THANK YOU. Thanks also to the NT Police Museum and Historical Society for taking possession of some of the memorabilia that had been collected and adorned the club over the decades.

To all the former Police Club Presidents, Secretaries and Committee members, again thank you for volunteering your time and effort into what became a great institution.

I particularly wish to thank recently retired Superintendent and former club President Bob Rennie and Club Secretary Sharon Gardiner, for not only putting up a darn good fight to try and save the club, but as the Police Club Inc. last Public Officer/s, have faced the challenge and responsibility of dealing

with the bureaucracy that comes with the clubs closure (guess Bob needed something to do in his retirement).

I leave you with the words of William Shakespeare: ‘Forever, and forever, farewell, Cassius! If we do meet again, why, we shall smile; If not, why then this parting was well made’.

Farewell Police Club servivit nos quoque vos (You served us well).

Top: Final Committee meeting on 7 June 2019 at the NT Police Club Inc. (Solly, Darren, Mark, Sharon, Lavinia and Cara – missing Bob and Michael); bottom: The Police Club Inc. Honour Board – 40 years of History

DECEMBER 2019 41

NEW STATION

Police instrumental in designing Palmerston’s new Cop Shop Palmerston-based officers now call a $30 million dollar, modern policing precinct home, with the completion of the new Palmerston Police Station in early September 2019.

The new station, which was part-designed by Senior Sergeant Trevor Owen, boasts a 24-hour Watch House, a ballistic-proof front counter, is designed to resist a Category 4 cyclone and caters for up to 200 officers.

Police Minister Nicole Mansion says the new three storey facility is twice the size of the existing station and means Palmerston police will no longer have to travel to Darwin to process offenders.

A reminder, the old police station on Chung Wah Terrace is now permanently closed.

Top: Official Open Day; bottom left: Senior Sergeant Nathan Finn, Shadow Police Minister Lia Finocchiaro, Superintendent Antony Deutrom, Senior Sergeant Trevor Owen; middle: Acting Commissioner Michael Murphy; right: NTPA Executive Member Simone Peterken, President Paul McCue, Former Executive Member Mark Turner, Police Minister Nicole Manison

42 NT POLICE NEWS

health NEW PCU BRANCH

CEO Police Credit Union Costa Anastasiou and Acting Commissioner Michael Murphy

Police Credit Union officially opens new Palmerston branch One of the NT Police Association’s major sponsors – Police Credit Union – officially threw open the doors to its new office in Palmerston on Monday 28 October.

Among

the guests were NTPA President, Paul McCue, Acting NT Police Commissioner, Michael Murphy APM, and Minister for Police, The Hon. Nicole Manison MLA. The new branch at Gateway Shopping Centre services more than 4,000, including many Northern Territory police officers. Police Credit Union CEO, Mr Costa Anastasiou, said: “Palmerston is the Territory’s fastest growing suburb, so it has made sense to open our new branch in the centre of such a booming hotspot.”

“As part of the relocation of our Casuarina presence to this larger, purpose-built Palmerston branch, we have also installed an automated coin counting machine which Members can access free of charge, as well as fast video communication which assists Members who cannot physically access our branch.

“We are a strong alternative to the big banks because we reinvest profits back into better products and services and support local community initiatives such as our long-standing association with the NT Police Association as well as numerous local community clubs, sporting clubs and police-led activities,” said Anastasiou.

“Police Credit Union is proud to be a long-standing part of the NT community, having first started supporting locals as far back as 1975,” said Mr Anastasiou.

Nationally, Police Credit Union is preparing to celebrate its 50-year anniversary in 2020.

For more information on becoming a PCU Member, visit www.policecu.com.au

PCU Branch Manager Melinda Burnett, Police Minister Nicole Manison

DECEMBER 2019 43

SCORCHED EARTH

The Recognition of Australia Policing in Overseas Missions In 1999, 271 police from 27 countries, including Australia, served in the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET). For that mission, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) seconded officers from state police services. All officers went in unarmed. Their story of courage, survival, and protection of others at the risk of their own lives has received little recognition. Tammy Pemper, author of the August 2019 released book Scorched Earth, aims to bring some of that recognition to police peacekeeping.

In Timor-Leste, the UNAMET mandate dictated that the police peacekeepers were to provide advice to the local, Indonesian-controlled police forces, who held responsibility for security with the local military.

History showed evidence of joint operations between the local police, military, and militia. Pemper spoke to Timorese who reportedly witnessed murders in police stations - the same force the UN police peacekeepers were mandated

to work with – and at the hands of the local military.

On the flipside, Timorese also spoke of their own relatives in the police and military aiding the clandestine and freedom fighters.

Scorched Earth, written as a unique narrative biography of Australian Federal Police (AFP) S/Sergeant Peter Watt, describes some of the challenges police peacekeepers faced, as summarised in the blurb:

Police held automati c weapons to my head , militia wrote my name on death lists, and people drew their last breath, all of them brave, braver than me.

r, I joined eacekeepe As a UN p ght for imorese fi the East T rth had en, the ea life. By th ne third blood of o drunk the ut worse B ulation. p o p ir e th of come. was still to

I saw bodies carried to thei r deaths, mac carve flesh fr hetes om bone, and bullets spray crowds of Tim in to orese and at us peacekeepe learned the tr rs. I ue meaning of fear, hopele and courage. ssness, Shades of trut h were twiste evil gain. Ever d for y day I prepar ed to die. Dec I made, which isions seemed so ri ght, jeopardi the lives of ot zed hers.

self.

I would see it for my

Timorese voted, Timor burned.

It is their story, our story: a stor y that must be told.

Due to the militia’s increasing threats against international witnesses, eleven days after the result of Timor-Leste’s referendum was announced, the UN evacuated. S/Sgt Watt was on the last plane out. With 13 other peacekeepers, S/ Sgt Watt had refused to leave behind 1,400 Timorese taking refuge with the UN. Against the UN’s norm, with the last of the UN, the Timorese were evacuated to camps in Australia, including Darwin.

Five days later, on September 20, troops under INTERFET, the UN sanctioned International Force for Timor-Leste, landed in Dili. Towards the end of October 1999, the Indonesian 44 NT POLICE NEWS

of my experience. In the For this is the true story , se fight for independence midst of the East Timore ed to enact their scorch militia were determined or to the ground.

Tim e earth policy and raz

government officially repealed the law established in 1976 that had assimilated Timor-Leste into Indonesia. Timor-Leste had its independence recognised and they started rebuilding their country. Some towns had been completed destroyed.

S/Sgt Watt chose to return to Timor-Leste days after his evacuation, to be based in the UNTAET Induction Training Unit, Darwin, 1999. The Northern Territory (NT) Police provided to him much-needed forensic and logistic support for the UNTAET Serious Crime’s Unit investigations. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) and community of Darwin played a key role in assisting the Timorese refuges.

Voters in sub district of Gleno on polling day, 30 August 1999

S/Sgt Watt returned to Timor-Leste in 2004-2006 as a police college training advisor with the AFP Timor-Leste Police Development Program (TLPDP). S/Sgt Watt engaged in discussions with the NT Police Mark James, the Workforce Development Officer for NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services College and Commander Waite, A/Com McAdie, and Des Greene during that time. As the aim was to support the Timorese police in developing regional training initiatives, those discussions related to the NTPOL experiences in working with indigenous communities.

Additional discussions centred around the planned development of a Station Manager’s course that was to be jointly coordinated by the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) mission and the TLPDP. Further, the NT Police supported the TLPDP by providing training for Timorese police and interpreters to attain a Certificate IV in Train-the-Trainer.

The working relationship between the AFP and NTPOL continued in 2007 where AFP officers and staff joined NTPOL under the Australian Government Northern Territory Emergency Response initiative. This included staff members who were sworn in as special members to the Northern Territory Police (NTPOL) and one member embedded into the NTPOL command structure. AFP sworn members later joined this contingent and were sworn in as special constables of the NTPOL under Operation Pleach.1 Numerous NT police officers were deployed in various UN missions to Timor-Leste and the NT Police has been also instrumental in being ready to respond to subsequent civil unrests in Timor-Leste. Timor-Leste Police Commissioner Longuinhos Monteiro in 2011 during discussions with then-NT Police Commissioner John McRoberts, commented on Northern Territory UNTAET peacekeepers stationed in Timor-Leste stating, “NT police are our closest friends who maybe can assist us.”2

30 August 2019 marks the 20th anniversary of the historical referendum that led to the independence, and subsequent rebuilding of Timor-Leste. The book, Scorched Earth, details the little-known role of police in that process, promoting the sacrifices of those involved.

The story is supported by testimonials including Australian film-maker Gil Scrine who stated: "The UN Peacekeepers, volunteers and others depicted in this heart-stopping account, went unarmed believing the Indonesian police and army were there to protect them.

Anyone familiar with the previous 24 years of Indonesian occupation knew this was an act of faith beyond all reason... The heroism and raw honesty with which their story is told in SCORCHED EARTH, is a tribute not only to those brave UN volunteers, journalists and others but to the East Timorese themselves.”

UNPOL Peter Watt & Spanish police CIVPOL Antonio Cubal on polling day, 30 August 1999

1 Retrieved from: http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AUFPPlatypus/2008/8.pdf 2 Retrieved from: https://www.smh.com.au/national/nt-police-offer-help-in-e-timor-20110820-1j3c6.html

DECEMBER 2019 45

membeR Update

NTPA Gift Shop • NTPA and NTPF Cufflinks

Resignations and Retirements Resignations

Rank

Date

Williams, Michael Williams

Senior Sergeant

14/8/19

Grant, Lynn Joan

Senior Constable

25/9/19

Finn, Sylvia Denise

Senior Auxiliary

25/9/19

Gill, David Noel

Auxiliary

27/9/19

Dalgliesh, Luke Richard

Senior Constable

29/9/19

Belbin, Andrew David

Senior Constable

30/9/19

Kershaw, Reece Philip

Commissioner

1/10/19

Williams, Elizabeth Lucy

Senior Constable 1/C

5/10/19

Hearn, Stephen David

Senior Constable

8/10/19

Machalek, Angelina Auzinda

Senior ACPO

18/10/19

Elliott, Margarita Aliki

Auxiliary

27/10/19

Zuber, Shane Anthony

Constable 1/C

30/10/19

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46 NT POLICE NEWS

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