17 Facts About Kezia Purick

Kezia Dorcas Tibisay Purick was born on 12 May 1958 and is an Australian politician.

Kezia Purick was an independent member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, first elected in the seat of Goyder in the 2008 election.

Kezia Purick served as Speaker of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly since the CLP's victory in the 2012 Territory election, a post she retained after leaving the CLP.

Kezia Purick was educated initially in Darwin for Primary School then in Western Australia at Methodist Ladies' College, Perth.

Kezia Purick graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia.

Kezia Purick worked for St John Ambulance Australia from 1985 until 1991, when she became CEO of the NT Minerals Council.

Kezia Purick was preselected as CLP candidate for Goyder at the 2008 Territory election.

Kezia Purick defeated Warren on a swing of over seven percent, enough to revert Goyder to its traditional status as a safe CLP seat.

Kezia Purick served as shadow minister for Major Projects, Trade and Economic Development, Planning and Lands, Housing, Statehood and Women's Policy in the Territory opposition from 2008 to 2012.

The parliamentary wing of the party overrode Mills' preference; Robyn Lambley was elected as deputy leader, and Kezia Purick was left out of cabinet.

On 20 July 2015, Kezia Purick announced that she was quitting the CLP because of her annoyance at the lack of integrity within the government and government's lack of communication with elected CLP members.

Kezia Purick said she would continue to sit in parliament as an independent and wanted to remain as Speaker; both major parties supported keeping Purick in the speaker's chair.

Kezia Purick's move to the crossbench reduced the CLP to a minority government; earlier in the year, three indigenous CLP MPs had left the CLP to become independents.

However, when the ballot to elect a new speaker was held, Labor and Delia Lawrie re-nominated Kezia Purick to stand against Conlan, and an unknown CLP member "crossed the floor" to vote for Kezia Purick, allowing her to regain her old post by 13 votes to 12.

In June 2020, the Northern Territory's Independent Commissioner Against Corruption found that Kezia Purick had engaged in "corrupt conduct" by attempting to interfere in the registration of a political party by the previous chief minister Terry Mills.

Kezia Purick is one of six children and the daughter of former politician Noel Padgham, who was a member of the assembly from 1977 to 1997.

Kezia Purick's father, Phillip Purich, was an appointed member for the Legislative Council in the 1960s.