Former NT Speaker Kezia Purick’s ‘corrupt conduct’ to be further investigated by parliamentary committee

THE peak corruption watchdog’s report into former Speaker Kezia Purick’s alleged corrupt conduct will be further investigated by a parliamentary committee to identify potential breaches of the MLA code of conduct.

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THE peak corruption watchdog’s report into former Speaker Kezia Purick’s alleged corrupt conduct will be further investigated by a parliamentary committee to identify potential breaches of the MLA code of conduct.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner, on the last parliamentary sitting day of the 13th Assembly, moved that the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption’s report into Ms Purick be referred to the privileges committee this term.

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But due to the impending dissolution of government on July 31, the option is open for the privileges committee to pick up where it left off after the election if it cannot finish its investigations before then.

Attorney-General Natasha Fyles also had to move to kick Ms Purick off the privileges committee, due to the quite clear conflict of interest in the matter, with Independent MLA Gerry Wood to serve as her replacement.

Former Speaker of the House Kezia Purick. Picture: Justin Kennedy

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ICAC Commissioner Ken Fleming, QC, earlier this week found Ms Purick engaged in a “series of acts” that amounted to corrupt conduct because each was a “serious breach of public trust”.

Mr Fleming also noted in a recent statement that he had forwarded other allegations about code of conduct breaches to the new Speaker to investigate, though who or what those relate to are unknown.

The independent Goyder MLA resigned from her role as Speaker the next day but has indicated she intends to run in the upcoming election.