Don’t jeopardise further probes into Purick corruption scandal, Chief Minister warns MLAs

POLITICIANS have been warned not to ‘jeopardise’ any possible future legal action against former speaker Kezia Purick.

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POLITICIANS have been warned not to “jeopardise” any possible future legal action against former speaker Kezia Purick.

In parliament yesterday, Chief Minister Michael Gunner said MLAs needed to respect the government, and the DPP separately, were in the process of reviewing the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption’s findings into Ms Purick’s corrupt conduct.

Mr Gunner will today confirm if, under advice, the issue will be forwarded to the privileges committee this term, which ends on July 31, or if the government will wait until after the August 22 election.

“(And) how we do that in a way that works without clashing with the DPP,” he said.

“This is not something that in a change of the assembly drops away as a workload for the committee.”

Chief Minister Michael Gunner. Picture: Che Chorley

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Newly-minted Speaker Chansey Paech has also flagged that he will be working with the Clerk in coming weeks to figure out what resources will be best to educate MLAs on their Obligations under the parliamentary code of conduct, as per ICAC Commissioner Ken Fleming QC’s recommendation.

“It is my intention to re-examine previous material developed in relation to this matter and brief the incoming Chair of the Standing Orders Committee for the 14th Assembly,” Mr Paech said.

The ICAC, in a bombshell report this week, found that after a nine-month investigation that former speaker Ms Purick had under the “balance of probabilities” engaged in corrupt conduct.

Two further investigations have come out of the ICAC report; one that sits with the Director of Public Prosecutions, and one with the Parliament’s Privileges Committee.

“I caution anyone, in this chamber or outside … like any time when there is a criminal investigation or court proceeding (that) you don’t jeopardise (that process),” Mr Gunner said.

“I am being respectful of the fact that we are in the middle of a process.”