Former Speaker Kezia Purick in legal bid to quash ICAC report, bar referral of possible charges to the DPP

EXCLUSIVE: FORMER Speaker Kezia Purick has launched a legal bid to quash a report that found she engaged in corrupt conduct and bar the corruption watchdog from referring his findings for possible criminal charges.

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FORMER Speaker Kezia Purick has launched a legal bid to quash a report that found she engaged in corrupt conduct and bar the corruption watchdog from referring his findings for possible criminal charges.

In the report released in June, Independent Commissioner Against Corruption, Ken Fleming, found Ms Purick engaged in a “series of acts” which amounted to corrupt conduct because each was a “serious breach of public trust”.

Mr Fleming concluded Ms Purick intervened in the attempted creation of a political party by fellow MLAs Terry Mills and Robyn Lambley, “contrary to her obligations of impartiality as Speaker” and acted dishonestly by releasing an untrue statement about her involvement in the matter.

Mr Mills and Ms Lambley later went on to form the Territory Alliance party which bombed out in the August election.

Former Speaker Kezia Purick has launched legal action in the Supreme Court in a bid to clear her name. Picture: Justin Kennedy

In an originating motion filed with the Supreme Court and obtained by the NT News, Ms Purick is now seeking a formal declaration that Mr Fleming “failed to afford (her) natural justice and procedural fairness”.

The Member for Goyder is also seeking an order from the court quashing Mr Fleming’s report and restraining him from providing a brief of evidence to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Last month, Mr Fleming said his office was still weighing up whether to refer his findings to the DPP but he would be barred from doing so if Ms Purick’s legal action is successful.

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Ms Purick’s claim also seeks an order forcing Mr Fleming to return to the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly any items or evidence collected in the course of his investigation that are subject to parliamentary privilege.

“(The plaintiff seeks) an order in the nature of prohibition restraining the defendant from providing evidence unlawfully obtained by the defendant to the DPP," the document reads.

“(And) an order in the nature of prohibition restraining the defendant from personally conducting or continuing to conduct an investigation … into the alleged improper conduct by the plaintiff”.

Ms Purick is also seeking an order that Mr Fleming pay her costs in the proceedings.

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Ms Purick resigned from her role as speaker following the release of the report and was returned to her seat of Goyder in the August election by more than 600 votes ahead of Country Liberal Party candidate Phil Battye.

Both Ms Purick and Mr Fleming’s office have been contacted for comment.

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