NT News first asked Kezia Purick about ICAC probe in February
IN February, the NT News first asked Speaker Kezia Purick for a response to an allegation she was being investigated by the Independent Commission Against Corruption
Northern Territory
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IN February, the NT News first asked Speaker Kezia Purick for a response to an allegation she was being investigated by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
We asked her a series of questions after being informed by a highly-placed source that an investigation was underway.
The questions a journalist sent to Ms Purick at 9.53am on February 14 were as follows:
We are writing a story regarding an ICAC investigation into you and your office’s conduct surrounding the attempted blocking of the formation of the North Australia party in 2018.
* Are you assisting the ICAC in their current investigation?
* Did the investigation have any part to play in your motion to Parliament to look into the operations of the ICAC?
* Will you step down from the position of Speaker now it has been confirmed the ICAC is looking into your conduct on this matter?
* In 2018, you said staff member Martine Smith made a phone call to a businessman to block the Northern Australia party name. What action has happened to the staff member and does she still work for you?
At 10.15am on the same day, Ms Purick emailed ICAC Commissioner Ken Fleming QC and carbon-copied her clerk, Michael Tatham.
She stated: “Dear Commissioner, Please find detailed below a request from the NT News. I have no information as to their request or why and of course, will not be responding.”
At 1.14pm, Ms Purick emailed NT News general manager Greg Thomson saying: “Please see below my email to the ICAC regarding your journalist’s enquiry. Your paper will need to contact the ICAC directly.”
Mr Thomson forwarded the email to editor Matt Williams, who is responsible for the NT News’ journalists and all editorial content.
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The NT News was subsequently asked on more than one occasion from the ICAC’s office how we were aware of the investigation.
The NT News declined to reveal its sources to the ICAC.
At the time, a story was not published in the NT News due to legal concerns, given the ICAC did not confirm an investigation was afoot.
Under the ICAC’s charter, it neither confirms nor denies who or what it is investigating.
Originally published as NT News first asked Kezia Purick about ICAC probe in February