John McRoberts: Interstate police to investigate former NT police commissioner
Interstate police will investigate former Northern Territory police commissioner John McRoberts under the recommendation of the report by the Public Interest Disclosure Commission.
The former Northern Territory police commissioner resigned in January amid claims he interfered in a criminal investigation in which he had a conflict of interest. Mr McRoberts has denied the allegations.
Another officer who had been in charge of police standards, Commander Richard Bryson, was subsequently suspended and became the subject of an internal police investigation into his conduct.
NT Chief Minister Adam Giles announced on Sunday the Government would accept the recommendations of the commissioner's report, which would not be made public.
The report made three recommendations:
The report also recommended the investigation be carried out by experienced investigators from interstate.
Mr Giles also announced the calling off of an independent judicial inquiry into the NT Pensioner and Carer Concessions Scheme.
This was based on the advice of NT solicitor-general Michael Grant who said it would be prejudicial.
The ABC understands the criminal investigation in which Mr McRoberts was alleged to have involved himself related to Darwin travel agent Xana Kamitsis.
Ms Kamitsis was arrested last November as part of an investigation into the NT Pensioner and Carer Concessions Scheme.
In a letter to Mr Giles dated 27 February, Mr Grant advised:
I have grave reservations about the conduct of an Inquiry of that nature, at least at the present time. There are currently criminal proceedings on foot concerning the operation of the Scheme, the Police investigation is ongoing, and there is the potential for further charges to be brought in relation to the operation of the Scheme.
In a statement, Mr Giles said it would not be appropriate to convene a judicial inquiry.
"The Government further considers that the [commission's inquiry] was sufficiently robust to not require a judicial inquiry," he said.
The Commission's investigation was conducted by Victoria's former deputy ombudsman John Taylor in a bid to avoid any conflicts of interest.
The Public Interest Disclosure commissioner, Brenda Monaghan, ruled herself out of the investigation after it was revealed she was a friend of Mr McRoberts' partner, Lisa Coffey.
