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February 14, 2024 12 mins

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Speaker 1 (00:00):
When it comes to politics, you know, we certainly like
to make sure that we are covering it all on
this show. And it has been a massive week so
far in politics, and the news that we are about
to deliver to this morning is massive in itself. And
joining me in the studio right now is the independent

(00:20):
Member for Goider, Kesier Puric. Good morning to you, Kesier.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
Oh, good morning, Katine, Good morning to my favorite bush people.

Speaker 1 (00:26):
Oh Keasier. You love everybody out in the territory, don't you.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
I don't know, I love everybody, but I definitely love
all my rural people.

Speaker 1 (00:35):
You really do. And Kesier, you're in here this morning
actually to make a massive announcement.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
I am Katie and thank you for having me on
your show today. I'm announcing my retirement from parliament, from
politics and as the Member for Goid I won't be
contesting the election in August this year. Mixed emotions, of course,
because I have just loved my job. It is a
really it's a job like no ever, no other you
will get no job like this kind of job as

(01:02):
a local member in the Northern Territory Parliament. And we've
thought about it. I've thought about it for a long
time with my partner. We've talked about it and if
I was to stand again, that's a four year commitment.
And because I wouldn't just go in and then say
I've had enough, hop out of two years forcing a
by election. So I'm sixty six this year and I reckon,
I've done, I've done my bit. It's time for someone

(01:24):
else to step up. I'm stepping out. I'm just going away.
I'm not going far, but it's just it's time. It's
time for me, and it's time for my family. You know,
they've all supported. We're all catching up after this. So
and we'll chat more about.

Speaker 1 (01:39):
It, some of your families here.

Speaker 2 (01:42):
Head of securities here, and my head of promotions and
marketings here, my niece ingrid is. Weve struck their engineering
up here, great firm struck.

Speaker 1 (01:51):
There, absolutely, But look keasier. There's going to be people
listening this morning who are absolutely devastated upon hearing this news.

Speaker 2 (01:58):
I know that, and you know that's a real compliment,
you know, Like I have told quite a few of
my constituents this morning by text that I'm announcing my
retirement today from politics and the parliament. And yeah, they've
come back with all sorts of what do you call
those things? Emojis are those things? They've come back with
all those things and love hearts and it will be sad.
I mean, I'm still around for another six months or saying,

(02:20):
you know, looking after people in the Rule Air because
there is a lot of challenges still there, so I know,
but it's just time for me to step away and
step and let someone else have a go. You know,
they may do it better, they may not, but that's
not my responsibility. That's the people of the rule Air
will hopefully elect someone that will do the right thing
by them. Keys Yer sixteen years sixteen years as the

(02:42):
member for Goid.

Speaker 1 (02:43):
It is a massive amount of time and I think
you know what you said just a moment ago goes
to the heart of the kind of person that you are.
You know, you're not prepared to run it the next
election and then cause a by election in a couple
of years time. You prefer to do it this way,
which I think is the right way to do it.

Speaker 2 (02:58):
Well, I think it's a fair way to do it,
you know, to give you give someone if there is
someone out there, I'm sure there will be because you know,
with me retiring. You know, you've got a seat that's unincumbered,
and I know the CLP have pre selected someone, and
I'm sure the Labor Party will have someone that they're
going to preselect, and I'm quite sure there'll be a
few independents that come out of the woodwork. And a
few people have approached me. I have to admit that,

(03:18):
and I know there's a couple that are very very
good in my view, help would look after the rule
area well. I mean, label will not get a look in.
I mean, they can put a nice candidate up and
I know the CLP will be thinking, now, beauty, we
can win that seat. But I wouldn't get too cocky
if I was you CLP, because that is definitely not guaranteed.
But it's a long year and it's a long time
and a lot of things have happened. I mean, for

(03:38):
those who aren't aware, I was with the CLP in
the beginning. I was with them for two thousand and
eight to about twenty fifteen, and that stage, the CLP
was in a dreadful situation as government and I couldn't
service the people of the rural area with the policies
that they were running with They tried to shut down
the Hump to Do fire station. We campaigned against that

(03:58):
and succeeded. They John Elfriink wanted to put us low
risk prisoners down on bees Creek Road, things of that nature.
They tried to do all sorts of things with planning,
and we fought every step of the way because just
common sense has to prevail sometimes when it comes to
the rule are. I mean everyone loves the rule are,
including those who don't live in the rule are. So
if you keep slicing and dicing and chopping up into

(04:19):
smaller than blocks like they're proposing at the Holts development,
you won't have a rule area to enjoy. So the
person who's going to come in next you better just
make sure you work hard for the rule people, because
that is what their aspiration and what their wishes are.

Speaker 1 (04:34):
Look, if you have just joined us this morning, you're
very much joining us to breaking news here on Mix
one oh four point nine that Kesier Puric, the Independent
member for Goida, has just announced on the show that
she is not going to be running at the next election.
She is going to be retiring. Keasier messages already starting
to flow through on my own personal phone and also

(04:54):
on the text line. I've got one here from Ashley,
and he said, Katie Kezier has been one of the
main stays of political life for me personally. She's been
a tremendous supporter and I thank her, love her from Ashleigh.

Speaker 2 (05:06):
Thank you. Actually, are you actually from Acasia Hills or
are you that other Ashley? I think it's the other Ashley.
Thank you Ashley. But look, you know this is the thing.

Speaker 1 (05:14):
You have been such a huge part of the Northern
Territory political scene.

Speaker 2 (05:19):
Well, Katie, it's one of those things. It's a job,
as I said, like no other, and you really do
have to sometimes put your heart and soul into it.
But the other thing you have to make the job
fit into you and your family and your lifestyle. And
that's what I've tried to do. I've tried to blend
them all together and get to know as many people
like I didn't know half as many people as what
I know now. Obviously you know from all my delightful,

(05:41):
lovely horse people. You know, I had no bloody idea
of one into the horse from the other. But now
I know everything there is to know about horses and
all the volunteer fire brigade, you know, right down to Marrachai,
even out to Point Stuart. You just get to meet
so many people. And you know, I've had children who
are you in primary school and now they're mothers with babies,
you know, So it's been like a big family in

(06:02):
some ways. And I just really enjoyed that part of
the job. I mean, Parliament is very important. Parliaments where
the laws are made for the benefit of all territorians
or the protection of all territories. But that's only one
part of the job. That's probably, I would reckon that's
about thirty percent of the job. The rest is in
your electorate. And trishau Here, who's my elected office and
has been with me since the beginning, she's also retiring.

(06:24):
Well she's not retiring, no, she is. No, we're finishing
up together easier. So yeah, it's been it's been very good,
but not without challenges. Of course. I'm all about some
down periods that in those sixteen years, and I was
looking back on my time in the colp and and
thinking about looking at well, one thing my mother said
to me when I first got into politics. She said,
because you know, being old school, you know, facsimiles and

(06:46):
no mobile fi. She said, Keyser, you must keep a
scrap book. And I said, yes, Mommy, I'll keep a
scrap book, you know, when you're shar up in papers
and everything. So I did. I kept the scrap book
religiously cut things out of papers and newsletters. Of course
it's less now because the way technology is. And I
was looking back at that and it's like, wow, you know,
I can't even I can't even recount sometimes all the

(07:07):
stories and the fun things, you know, and sad things.

Speaker 1 (07:09):
You know.

Speaker 2 (07:09):
I've lost a lot of constituents through you know, they've
died through old age or sickness, or been killed or
taken their own lives, you know, And that's the sad
part about it. And that part had started to started
to pull me down a bit. Kizia, what's been what?

Speaker 1 (07:23):
I can see you getting emotional? What's it? You know? You?
This is the thing about you is you don't just
do your job like you're part of the community. You
live the community, right, And I experience that even when
I've been out to the rural show. You grabbed you,
and you grabbed me, and you make me, you know,
go and different competitions and things like that. But what
strikes me is every time you come on this show,

(07:44):
there is always, you know, there is always people who
are your constituents that contact me, you know, whether they're
sending a message to have a bit of a joke,
whether they're thanking you for something that you've done. But
you are fundamentally part of that community. And that's going
to be so difficult to replace.

Speaker 2 (08:00):
Well, that's correct, but the new well, I shouldn't say
that. That sounds a bit cocky, doesn't it. That's true. But
the person who replaces me, they have to make their
own footprints. Do not follow in my footsteps. You must
make your own footprints in life. And as I said,
they may do it better, they may do it differently,
they may not quite do it the way I did,
but they will do it their way. And I say

(08:22):
now to anyone listening, if you are thinking of running,
just be very very careful because if you don't look
after the rule people, they will tell you where no
uncertain terms. They'll come marching into the office, or catch
you at the markets or footy or somewhere and let
you know. And I think that one of the key
key success pointers for this kind of job is good
listening and just remembering, you know, good listening and remembering it,

(08:44):
and also following up, Always follow up, even if it's
something very very small. And I think that's the that's
the forming of relationships with people. I think that's the
success of being a good local member.

Speaker 1 (08:55):
Kesier, what's been the biggest highlight for you over those
sixteen years?

Speaker 2 (08:59):
Gosh, I don't really know. I own a highlight was
definitely being the Speaker of the Parliament, without a doubt,
because that exposed me to a world that a lot
of people just don't get exposed to, you know, like
with the trips to London to meet with other speakers
and presidents of countries. I've met the president of Bangladesh
who is a woman, and the speakers a woman in Bangladesh.
I've met with people from India who from the Gandhi family.

(09:21):
I've learned a lot. I've learned a lot about I
learned a lot about the African countries and how poorly
women are treated more than what we realize, particularly when
it comes to young girls. I think it was Tanzania
has legislated that girls must stay at school till they
finish in year twelve. Like previously they pulled out at
nine to ten, sent down the road to make bricks
or whatever it was. The boys stayed in school. Yeah,

(09:42):
so you know, learning things like that and then bringing
those experiences and knowledge home goes to show how well
and how lucky we are in this country. And I've
tried to use that information when I talk with young
people to get them to keep things in perspective about
their lives and stop, you know, like that old expression,
first will problems. We really don't have problems. So that

(10:02):
was probably a highlight being the speaker and learning so much.
But jeez, I just think it's just winning some of
the battles and the ruler. It's probably the highlight that
just off the top of my head. Anyway, Kisia, what
is next? What is next?

Speaker 1 (10:14):
I mean, you're still in for another six months, Like
let's not send you out to greener pasture just yet,
because we still you're coming in for the week. That
providing that political insight.

Speaker 2 (10:24):
But what's next for you? Well, probably in the short term,
like I want to support my mother. My mother's getting
a bit long in the tooth. She's ninety seven this
year and she's still listening this morning hopefully, so maybe not,
maybe not. She gets a big jack of radios. Yeah,
that's all right, but I can always play it to
her lady, Yes, and just to help her with the farm,

(10:47):
to keep her quality of life there. And my other
sisters helped too, because she she loves her farm. So
you know, she's in fit state physically and mentally. So
that's probably something in the short term, and then we'll
see what happens. You know, I've got my own property
to look after, and you know, there's a lot of
work that has to be done. People don't rural people do.
I know you're low. You know, as soon as it's
the wet season you get out to start mine, your
bloody mole breaks down. You know, things like that. It's

(11:09):
lots of lot after I'm open to lots of suggestions.
I'm still going to contribute to the community in areas
that I have great interest. Yeah, I have a very fond,
great interest in supporting old people because I think when
people get old, they become invisible. As soon as you
hit sixty five or seventy, you know, you're just not there.
I've watched it. I've watched it in shopping centers. You're
just not there. So if there's a way that I

(11:30):
can help, you know, giving older people quality of life,
well that's something I'm interested in. I don't know how,
but maybe I just do something myself. So I don't know,
we'll see what happens.

Speaker 1 (11:39):
Must say, Well, keesy epiric, look like I say, there's
going to be plenty of people who are stunned to
hear this this morning. They're going to be sad, you know,
particularly for those that are your constituents. I think because
you've done a tremendous job in terms of representing them,
and no matter what side of the political fence you
sit on, there is no doubt that you've done a

(12:01):
lot over the last sixteen years.

Speaker 2 (12:04):
I will work with anyone that gives me a fair
go to represent the rule there. So you know that
old saying your enemies are not on your side of
the parliament, you know they or the other side. They
might be on your side and vice versa. And I've
got lots of good friends I believe I feel the
friends of mine on the other side, the government side,
and also on the Coop and the Independent. So as
I said, it's about forging your relationships and making your

(12:26):
own relationships with individual people.

Speaker 1 (12:28):
Well, Kezia Puric, I really appreciate your time this morning,
and we'll have you back in tomorrow morning.

Speaker 2 (12:34):
Though for the week that was right, Apparently I've got
to bring Georgio in. I've been told by the fellows outside,
so I'll be back tomorrow.

Speaker 1 (12:40):
Yes, all right, sounds like I'm playing keesy Apuric. Thank
you so much for your time.
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