The reign of Kezia Purick
KEZIA Purick was preselected as the Country Liberal Party candidate for Goyder at the 2008 Territory election.
Northern Territory
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- Kezia Purick resigns as NT Speaker following ICAC investigation, Robyn Lambley demands unnamed ‘players’ be named
- ICAC calls on NT Parliament to crack down on MLA behaviour
- Speaker probe marks corruption watchdog’s first big finding
- ICAC’s probe into Kezia Purick: Everything you need to know
KEZIA Purick was preselected as the Country Liberal Party candidate for Goyder at the 2008 Territory election.
Prior to entering parliament, Purick was the chief executive of the NT Minerals Council for 16 years.
Ms Purick has served as Speaker of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly since the CLP’s victory in the 2012 Territory election, a post she has retained.
In Opposition she was deputy leader of the CLP and prior to the 2012 election, CLP leader Terry Mills indicated that should the party win government, Purick would remain as his deputy, and become Deputy Chief Minister.
The parliamentary wing of the party overrode Mills’ preference; Robyn Lambley was elected as deputy leader, and an angry Purick was left out of cabinet.
In the chaotic months before Terry Mills was rolled as CLP Chief Minister, leaked emails show Speaker Purick fed embarrassing information about planned CLP cost hikes direct to Labor. Increases to power prices and car registrations were huge factors as the tide of public opinion turned sharply against the CLP.
Ms Purick has been the centre of many dramatic moments in parliament.
In 2014, the Delia Lawrie led Labor Opposition called for a criminal inquiry after former CLP politician Larissa Lee sought to table letters between herself, Speaker Kezia Purick and then Attorney-General John Elferink alleging improper conduct.
Ms Purick quit the CLP in 2015 because of what she said was her annoyance at the lack of integrity within the government.
She said she would continue to sit in parliament as an independent and remained as Speaker.
With the support of the then Labor Opposition and an unknown CLP member she survived an attempt to have her removed as the Speaker in November 2015 after the then Attorney-General John Elferink moved a motion citing what he claimed were partial comments she had posted on Facebook regarding government-funded advertising about anti-ice legislation.
The term ‘Madam Leaker’ was coined during the CLP’s term of government.
As Speaker, Ms Purick has attracted her share of interest.
Her outspoken public comments, her overseas parliamentary travel and her parliamentary office budget spending on alcohol, in-house hospitality and events have attracted media attention.
When allegations first surfaced that Ms Purick’s office attempted to interfere in the establishment of a new political party, then independent Robyn Lambley alleged Chief Minister Michael Gunner did not sack Ms Purick, because his mother was at the time working for the Speaker.
The allegations were denied by Mr Gunner and his mother is no longer working in the Legislative Assembly.
Originally published as The reign of Kezia Purick