Chief Minister Michael Gunner should have sacked Speaker Kezia Purick earlier, says Terry Mills

TERRITORY Alliance leader Terry Mills has called on the Chief Minister to explain why he didn’t sack Speaker Kezia Purick when she was first accused of engaging in undemocratic behaviour back in 2018

Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills has called on the Chief Minister to explain why he didn’t sack Speaker Kezia Purick when she was first accused of engaging in undemocratic behaviour back in 2018. Picture: Glenn Campbell

TERRITORY Alliance leader Terry Mills has called on the Chief Minister to explain why he didn’t sack Speaker Kezia Purick when she was first accused of engaging in undemocratic behaviour back in October 2018.

Mr Mills said Chief Minister Michael Gunner also needed to explain why he installed Ms Purick, the Independent Member for Goyder, as Speaker in the first place when Labor had such overwhelming numbers in Government.

MORE TOP NEWS

Kezia Purick asked to resign amid ICAC probe, Chief Minister announces

Northern Territory borders will reopen July 17

NT Government banks in on cheap interest rates and borrows $600 million

“Kezia Purick was the hand-picked choice of the Chief Minister to be Speaker and he has let this continue on and despite many opportunities to address it, he chose not to,” Mr Mills said.

“We are not surprised at the findings and nor should the Chief Minister be.

“The ICAC Commissioner has found that ‘Ms Purick, by the actions outlined in this Investigation Report (the Report), engaged in corrupt conduct between 2018 and 2020.

“This outrageous and corrupt conduct is a reflection of the Gunner Government.

“They installed Purick as Speaker and kept her in the job even when she apologised to parliament and falsely sheeted all the blame to her staff member for the corrupt conduct.

“This is a reflection on the shambles of a Government. Of an absolute failure of judgment by

the Chief Minister to continue to back Purick.

AMAZING OFFER: Get Sennheiser earbuds (RRP: $499) with NT News subscription deal

“In the last Sittings of this term of Government, for the Gunner Government to move on Purick is too little too late, just as all of the scrambling of a desperate government is far too little too late for Territorians.”