Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has issued an apology to outgoing police commissioner Jamie Chalker over public comments she made after his retirement.
Ms Fyles's apology came after she was contacted by Mr Chalker's lawyers after her press conference addressing his retirement on Sunday.
That was the day that Mr Chalker and the government announced they had reached a confidential settlement deal, which saw the police commissioner retire from his post six months before the end of his contract.
The agreement ended weeks of speculation about Mr Chalker's future in the role, after reports emerged the government had asked him to resign.
Ms Fyles said the amount of money that Mr Chalker received as part of the agreement was confidential, but on Monday afternoon apologised for comments she had made the day before that "may have been interpreted that Mr Chalker only received his statutory and contractual entitlements".
"I cannot disclose the amount that Mr Chalker received or what it was received for under the terms of settlement by which the proceedings were brought to an end," Ms Fyles said in a statement.
"I apologise to Mr Chalker for any misunderstanding arising out of my comments."
Speaking on Tuesday, Ms Fyles refused to specify which of her comments had triggered the need for an apology.
"This has been a matter before the Supreme Court, and the statements that have been issued is all I can say, I cannot comment any further," she told ABC Radio Darwin.
Ms Fyles also would not comment on the mechanism in Mr Chalker's contract for ending or renewing his employment as police commissioner, and did not give a direct answer on what that would look like for his replacement.
Ms Fyles told reporters on Sunday that Mr Chalker was "entitled to a number of financial matters".
"I am bound by confidentiality in disclosing details, but I always act in the best interest of Territorians and also [am] very respectful to taxpayer dollars," she said.
Given Mr Chalker had at least six months left on his contract, a significant sum could have been paid to him.
The ABC has asked Mr Chalker's lawyer, Rebekah Giles, which of Ms Fyles's comments he took issue with and what his "statutory and contractual entitlements" were.
NT Police not told of retirement
Mr Chalker's retirement was announced to the public in a joint statement released to the media at 11am on Sunday morning.
The ABC understands that the Northern Territory Police Force — including its executive members — was not informed prior to the announcement being made public.
Ms Fyles said that, since Mr Chalker went on leave in early April, Deputy Commissioner Michael Murphy had been acting in the role and that the government had "tried to give the police force as much information as [it could]".
"These [settlement discussions] were of a confidential nature, so I appreciate some people wished to have more information but there was a number of factors at play," Ms Fyles said.
Police Association want 'frontline first' replacement
Ms Fyles announced a national recruitment drive would soon begin for a new police commissioner, with Deputy Commissioner Michael Murphy to continue acting in the role until Mr Chalker's replacement is found.
NT Police Association president Paul McCue said members wanted to a see a "frontline-first" approach by the incoming commissioner.
"With our members stretched far too thin and facing ever-increasing levels of violence on our streets, it is time to appoint the best possible person who will focus on the frontline or our police force, across the entire territory," Mr McCue said.
"The new commissioner needs to wrap around those on the frontline, acknowledge the resourcing and structural deficiencies, and do something about it."
Mr McCue said that, while it would be "foolish" for a commissioner who did not understand the unique challenges of policing in the Northern Territory to be appointed to the position, he wanted the campaign to "attract the best possible candidates from across Australia".
He also acknowledged the unpredictable challenges faced by Mr Chalker throughout his three-and-a-half-year tenure as police commissioner.
"I don't think anyone could have envisaged the challenges presented when he was first appointed, no more so than the Yuendumu critical incident, and the [COVID-19] pandemic," Mr McCue said.
"One could argue Mr Chalker was never afforded the opportunity to focus on other policing matters, due to those two matters alone, but with his short tenure now over, we will never know.
"With attrition doubling since late 2019, to [more than] 10 per cent, it has been a tumultuous time for our membership."
Ms Fyles was not able to say how long the recruitment process for a new police commissioner would take.
