Speaker probe marks NT corruption watchdog’s first big finding

THE Independent Commission Against Corruption’s probe into Speaker Kezia Purick’s ‘corrupt conduct’ is the NT anti-corruption body’s first significant finding since it was formed in 2018.

The NT Office of ICAC Corruption (ICAC) was established on November 30, 2018, with Ken Fleming appointed commissioner. Picture: Keri Megelus

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THE Independent Commission Against Corruption’s probe into Speaker Kezia Purick’s “corrupt conduct” is the NT anti-corruption body’s first significant finding since it was formed in 2018.

The NT Office of the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) was established on November 30, 2018, with Ken Fleming appointed commissioner.

Commissioner Fleming stirred up some controversy last year after he stepped down from his role overseeing an investigation into the alleged police fatal shooting of indigenous teenager Kumanjayi Walker.

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It came after concerns were raised over comments he made at a protest rally held in Alice Springs in November, where he used the activist slogan “black lives matter”.

The commissioner has kept a relatively low profile in the media since then.

The ICAC has powers to investigate the most serious, sensitive and systemic corrupt conduct of public officers and public agencies, including Members of the Legislative Assembly.

An ICAC spokesman said they had received 622 reports of allegations of suspected improper conduct as of yesterday.

Fifty-eight of those reports are now under investigation, 41 are under preliminary inquiries and 64 have been sent to “referral entities”.

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The report ICAC handed down on Ms Purick yesterday is the first investigation made public by the anti-corruption watchdog.