Natasha Griggs to become Australia’s first female Administrator to Christmas Island and Cocos Island

FORMER Solomon MP Natasha Griggs will become Australia’s first female Administrator to Christmas Island and Cocos Islands — putting to bed rumours she will stand for One Nation at the next federal election

Former MP Natasha Griggs spends some time with her dogs Oscar and Toby ahead of her move to Christmas Island. Picture: PATRINA MALONE

FORMER Solomon MP Natasha Griggs will become Australia’s first female Administrator to Christmas Island and Cocos Islands — putting to bed rumours she will stand for One Nation at the next federal election.

Mrs Griggs, 48, was relaxing with her mum, Sandra, daughter-in-law Amy and grand daughters Scarlett, 16 months and Evie, 3 yesterday ahead of the planned move in a month’s time.

The appointment announced by Minister for Local Government and Territories Fiona Nash kills speculation Mrs Griggs will attempt a political comeback through One Nation or Cory Bernardi’s Australian Conservatives Party after a spectacular falling out with the CLP in July.

“I did know I was being considered for this role at the time of all the speculation but I knew I wasn’t going back to politics regardless of being selected for this position or not,” she said.

“I have an excellent relationship with my Coalition colleagues and I still have friends and supporters in the CLP.

“After all that has gone on I feel humbled and I feel honoured. I feel all the hard work I have done has paid off.

“Not just my political career as the member for Solomon and my time on the Palmerston Council, but my business career with SRA IT who really, through Steve Rowe, encouraged me to go down this path.” Mrs Griggs has been active behind the scenes in the Master Builders Association lobbying for changes to Defence procurement policy.

She used her political network to arrange cross-party meetings for the MBA, refusing payment to assist.

“In this role you need to be able to advocate for your community and even though I don’t always get the recognition, I always pursued the funding for the people of Solomon,” she said. “Now I will do what I can for a new group of Territorians on Christmas and Cocos islands.” Christmas and Cocos islands have a population of 2500 between them, sitting on the edge of Australia’s territorial waters about 2750km and 3650km from Darwin respectively.

They fall within the NT electorate of Lingiari represented by Labor MP Warren Snowdon and the NT’s two Senators.

Mrs Griggs will be sworn in next week, officially taking over from Barry Haas on October 5. She said discussions were underway in negotiating how and when her husband Paul, a serving veteran NT police officer, will join her.