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

SPEAKER Kezia Purick has been asked to resign as speaker of the Territory Parliament after the ICAC found she committed serious breaches of public trust and engaged in undemocratic behaviour

Speaker Kezia Purick

SPEAKER Kezia Purick has been asked to resign as Speaker of the Territory Parliament after the ICAC found she committed serious breaches of public trust and engaged in undemocratic behaviour.

NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner revealed the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption’s (ICAC) findings at a press conference on Monday morning.

The findings, contained in a report, found Ms Purick “intervened in the attempted creation of a political party by other MLAs, contrary to her obligations of impartiality as Speaker” and acted dishonestly by releasing an untrue statement of her involvement in the matter.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner is holding a snap press conference at Parliament House this morning.

Posted by The NT News on Sunday, 21 June 2020

It also found she misled the commission under oath.

The ICAC report will be tabled in Parliament tomorrow.

Ms Purick told the NT News she was completely blindsided by the Chief Minister’s announcement this morning.

The Member for Goyder said she had been in a meeting at her electorate office in Coolalinga when he held a surprise press conference this morning.

“He did try and ring me but I was in a meeting here in my electorate office so I had no idea,” she said.

Speaker Purick highly likely under investigation

Purick staffer contacted businessman to stop political party name being registered

“There are some legal issues so I can’t talk about it just yet until I seek legal advice but one thing was that the (ICAC) report was supposed to be going to the Speaker’s Office but it went went to the Chief Minister’s office.

“The fact that I’m part of the report is neither here nor there, I can always step back from it.”

If Ms Purick, the independent MLA for Goyder, does not resign today, the government will move for her removal in Parliament tomorrow.

The government will propose deputy speaker, Labor Namatjira MLA Chansey Paech, take over.

The NT News first asked questions about the ICAC investigation into Ms Purick in February.

However, under legal advice we were not able to publish the details surrounding the investigation.

Ms Purick has been the Member for Goyder since 2008.

In a statement, Independent Commissioner Against Corruption, Ken Fleming QC said: “Today I provided an Investigation Report concerning the conduct of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the Chief Minister.”

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

“The Deputy Speaker must table this report in the Legislative Assembly in accordance with section 50 of the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Act 2017.

“The ICAC will respond to questions arising from the investigation report after it is tabled in the Legislative Assembly.”

MORE TO COME