Northern Territory Police officers “do not have confidence” in Commissioner Jamie Chalker, have low morale and are lacking resources, according to a damning union survey.
Key points:
1,044 NT Police Association members took part in the survey – about 65 per cent of union membership
79.7 per cent of surveyed members said they did not have confidence in Commissioner Jamie Chalker
The survey was conducted after multiple police regions requested a vote of no confidence in the Commissioner
The NT Police Association (NTPA), a union which represents officers, undertook a survey of its members after calls for a vote of no confidence in Commissioner Chalker.
1,044 officers took part in the survey out of 1,608 who were eligible, which the union said was the highest number of participants ever.
79.7 per cent said they did not have confidence in the commissioner.
The survey comes as concerns grow about crime in the Northern Territory, which has become a major issue in the upcoming by-election in the seat of Fannie Bay.
There has also been another jump in domestic violence cases.
Paul McCue said the results would be discussed at the union’s annual conference next week. (ABC News: Mitchell Woolnough)
Police force ‘in complete crisis’, union claims
In an internal email from union president Paul McCue, seen by the ABC, the key issues identified by the survey included low morale, pay freeze concerns and a lack of resources.
Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro has pulled out of today’s parliamentary inquiry, citing mental health reasons.
Key points:
John Barilaro was set to face questions about what his girlfriend knew about the US trade job
He withdrew from the lucrative position in June after intense media scrutiny over his appointment
Mr Barilaro took a month of mental health leave in 2020
The upper house inquiry has been investigating Mr Barilaro’s appointment as senior trade and investment commissioner to the Americas.
He was scheduled to give his second day of evidence today, after first facing the inquiry on Monday.
“John Barilaro has informed the committee that due to mental health reasons he is unable to attend today’s hearing,” a statement from the inquiry said.
Mr Barilaro was due to face questions about what his girlfriend, Jennifer Lugsdin, knew about the lucrative US trade job he was awarded earlier this year.
Ms Lugsdin worked for Investment NSW — the body responsible for hiring people for overseas trade roles — when the Americas job was advertised.
Last December she was copied in on discussions about a media release calling for applications for the trade envoy position.
Before taking the role with Investment NSW, Ms Lugsdin was the senior media advisor for Mr Barilaro between 2019 and 2021.
Jennifer Lugsdin was awarded a short-term role with Investment NSW in August 2021. (Supplied: Linkedin)
On Monday, Mr Barilaro expressed frustration about facing questions about his personal life.
Labor’s Penny Sharpe said she did not enjoy asking “uncomfortable” questions, but said it was necessary.
“Someone you were in a relationship with… was clearly aware of the various processes associated with the advertising and the nature of [the US trade] position,” she told the hearing on Monday.
Mr Barilaro withdrew from the New York-based trade role in June, saying intense media scrutiny made his appointment “untenable”.
The controversy surrounding his selection is now the subject of two inquiries and it led to the resignation of trade minister Stuart Ayres last week.
Although Mr Ayres is adamant he did nothing wrong, an inquiry by Graeme Head raised concerns he might have breached the ministerial code of conduct.
The upper house inquiry has heard Mr Ayres was not at “arm’s length” from the selection process.
Mr Barilaro resigned as deputy premier in October 2021, saying the pressure of public life had “taken a toll”.
He took a month off for his mental health in 2020 and said he thought he would never come back to politics.
An internal review into John Barilaro’s controversial appointment to a lucrative trade role in New York has cost taxpayers $73,000 and is overdue.
Key points:
An internal review into Mr Barilaro’s appointment has cost taxpayers $73,500
The Premier has received part of a draft section of the report
Mr Barilaro will reappear before a parliamentary inquiry on Friday
The former NSW Public Service Commissioner Graeme Head was asked to conduct the review after it was ordered by Premier Dominic Perrottet last month.
New documents have been released publicly through a parliamentary order revealing that the fee set for the review was $73,500.
The documents suggest that when Mr Head was first engaged in late June the completion date was set at July 15, which gave the former Commissioner three weeks to undertake it.
But another document reveals it was extended to August 5.
The review is understood to be funded by the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
In the new tranche of documents, there is also the official letter from the Secretary of the Department Michael Coutts-Trotter to Mr Head which sets out the terms of reference.
A review into transitional accommodation for people with disabilities who have been discharged from hospital has found some people are getting stuck at facilities almost permanently, amid reports from patients that they are receiving substandard care.
Key points:
A state government review reveals people with disabilities get stuck in transitional accommodation after hospital discharge
Last week, the ABC revealed complaints from patients at the Repat center
Human Services Minister Nat Cook, who commissioned the review, says the government needs to do better
The State Government ordered a review of the Transition to Home facilities after multiple complaints, including the case of a man known as “Mr D” who was found by ambulance staff in squalid conditions with an infected wound.
Mr D was at a Hampstead facility that has since closed, but the remaining Transition to Home programs at The Repat and St Margaret’s Rehabilitation Hospital have also come under fire for a lack of care, with allegations clients have been left to soil themselves in their wheelchairs .
Last week, the ABC revealed multiple complaints from patients at the Repat Health Precinct, including allegations that patients were being left in their own faeces and had been given the incorrect doses of medication.
Originally designed to help NDIS clients stuck in hospital waiting for support to return home or to permanent accommodation, the independent report has found clients were being referred to the service without a discharge pathway, “resulting in clients being admitted whose length of stay in T2H will most likely to be static, long stay or permanent.”
A man known as Mr D was found by ambulance staff in squalid conditions with an infected wound.(ABC News: Che Chorley)
It found while the expected length of stay in a T2H facility was 90 days, the average length of stay was 207 days. As of June this year the longest stay was 536 days.
Staff and clients told the reviewers that in some cases clients were waiting on simple home modifications, but NDIS requirements to get three quotes, combined with the post COVID-19 market was leading to delays.
Major facility misunderstanding
The report found the centers were designed to operate as step-down facilities, but there were frequent misunderstandings with clients who expect ongoing hospital-level care, a situation exacerbated by their location in a hospital setting.
While both facilities were supposed to be a home-like environment, the report found they had significant limitations including shared rooms with just curtains to separate clients, a lack of storage, limited access to outdoor areas and a lack of amenities like kitchen and laundry facilities. .
The “Robust Unit” at The Repat was singled out for particular criticism.(ABC News: Isabel Dayman)
The so-called “Robust Unit” at The Repat was singled out.
“The new Robust Units … are stark and confronting, and the current bright white color and fit out are unlikely to contribute to calming a person with challenging behaviour,” the report found.
It found St Margaret’s “arrangements are of a much higher standard, although a number of shared rooms impact client privacy and dignity”.
The facilities have already been subject to multiple investigations, including internal audits and an inquiry by the Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner.
