The Northern Territory Police Commissioner has officially resigned as a member of the Police Union after it sharply criticised his apology to Indigenous Territorians over historical injustice and racism. The apology delivered at the Garma Festival at the weekend now working its way into the Northern Territory's political campaign.
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00:00At a preschool to mark Early Childhood Education Week, but once playtime was over, the Chief
00:08Minister didn't hold back on the fallout around the apology to Indigenous Territorians.
00:13Look, consult what and say, should we not have racism in the police force?
00:18Is that how you consult around this issue?
00:20Of course we should not have racism in the Northern Territory.
00:23Eva Lawler giving a forceful rebuke to those criticising a lack of consultation within
00:28the police force before the Commissioner's speech at Garma.
00:33We need to work together to better the lives of some of our most vulnerable people, our
00:38people that are in poverty and we know a large percentage of them are our Indigenous people.
00:43We have to do that work.
00:45I know it may be uncomfortable for a lot of people.
00:47I know a lot of people have had their places broken into.
00:51The Police Union insisting its members should have been made aware ahead of the weekend.
00:56I probably disagree with the Chief Minister in her comments.
00:59I think it's important to include the membership in this change.
01:02Late last night, Michael Murphy announcing he was resigning from the NT Police Association,
01:08saying he was incredibly disappointed by its criticism of his apology.
01:12The press release that we put out I believe was balanced and measured.
01:17It was not intended to cause the Commissioner an angst, which I think is what's occurred.
01:23While Labor has backed the Commissioner, the CLP is yet to fully outline how it feels about
01:28the apology.
01:29Leah Finocchiaro today saying she would instead prefer more attention be paid toward police
01:34and the burden they're experiencing.
01:36The Police Commissioner will have to defend his own record and his own decision making.
01:41But Brent Potter and Labor also have had a hand in this and must take responsibility
01:46for failing to make sure our police knew well in advance of it happening.
01:50A debate expected to continue well beyond polling day.