7 October 2025
The Northern Territory Government will adopt all six recommendations from the report by the Hon Alan Michael Blow AO into senior police recruitment processes.
The independent report, commissioned to strengthen transparency and integrity in senior police appointments, sets out a series of measures to improve governance, accountability, and merit-based recruitment.
The recommendations are:
Establishing a written policy on recruitment and appointment processes;Requiring the use of conflict-of-interest declarations;Ensuring the decision-maker or appointor is not a member of the selection panel;Amending the Police Administration Act to enshrine merit as the primary criterion for appointment;Adopting a clear policy for acting appointments to higher ranks, including the duration and process for filling vacancies; andImplementing further reforms to modernise the recruitment and appointment of senior police officers.
Acting Police Commissioner Martin Dole APM has been directed to implement all six recommendations without delay.
Chief Minister and Police Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the Government was committed to ensuring public confidence in the recruitment of senior police officers.
Notably, the Northern Territory Police Association declined to participate in the inquiry.
