The appointment of the Northern Territory's next administrator has been plunged into controversy following the emergence of past remarks in which he insulted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and claimed First Nations people were "the main group" behind crime in the region.
Controversial Comments Surface
David Connolly, the former president of the NT Cattlemen's Association, is due to begin his tenure as the King's representative in the territory next month. His selection by Country Liberal Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro is now under intense scrutiny after deleted social media posts and a speech from 2024 came to light.
In the speech, delivered at a cattlemen's conference, Connolly launched a fierce critique of several Labor figures. He accused Anthony Albanese of lying upon his election and described the Prime Minister's campaign for the Indigenous Voice to parliament as "so arrogant, so ignorant, so threatening, and so wrong".
On the subject of crime, Connolly dismissed links to colonial history, stating: "The main group of people perpetrating these criminal actions have been in Australia for 60,000 years. The English didn't send them here." He attributed crime issues to "soft Labor party policies" and a "weak judiciary".
Social Media Posts and Calls for Reconsideration
Further controversy stems from now-deleted posts on social media platform X. In one, he made a joke referencing domestic violence in relation to the Greens party. In another, he referred to Indigenous-lit bushfires as "arson", claiming a double standard in enforcement.
The revelations have prompted significant concern, given the administrator's role is constitutionally required to be nonpartisan. Geoffrey Watson, director of the Centre for Public Integrity, has urged the government to "rethink" the appointment before Connolly moves into Government House.
NT Labor leader Selena Uibo said the role demands an individual who can "represent all Territorians with integrity, respect and political neutrality". She stated that Connolly's public comments "raised serious questions" about his ability to meet that standard and unite the community.
Defence and Future Conduct
Chief Minister Finocchiaro has defended her nominee, stating the government selected "someone who's going to fight for the territory and put our economy first". She predicted Territorians would "love him".
For his part, Connolly has not publicly addressed the emergence of his old posts or the 2024 speech. Reports suggest the social media account was deleted after journalists began making inquiries.
In a December interview following his appointment announcement, Connolly told the ABC he would not be "expressing any political opinion publicly" while in the role, though he acknowledged he would still hold personal views. In his 2024 speech, he conceded his reputation for bluntness, saying: "I'm yet to be accused of not speaking my mind directly."
The episode sets the stage for a challenging beginning to Connolly's term as the Northern Territory's highest-ranking official, with his past statements ensuring his every move will be closely watched.
