Natasha Griggs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Natasha Griggs
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Griggs in 2014
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| Administrator of the Australian Indian Ocean Territories | |
| In office 5 October 2017 – 4 October 2022 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II Charles III |
| Governor-General | |
| Preceded by | Barry Haase |
| Succeeded by | Sarah Vandenbroek (acting) |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Solomon |
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| In office 21 August 2010 – 2 July 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Damian Hale |
| Succeeded by | Luke Gosling |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Natasha Louise Griggs
24 January 1969 Adelaide, South Australia |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Other political affiliations |
Country Liberal |
| Spouse | Paul Griggs |
| Children | 1 |
| Residences | Palmerston, Northern Territory |
| Alma mater | Northern Territory University |
| Occupation | Politician |
Natasha Louise Griggs (born 24 January 1969) is a former Australian politician. From 2017 to 2022, she served as the Administrator of the Australian Indian Ocean Territories.
Griggs was elected to the Australian House of Representatives in the 2010 federal election. She represented the Division of Solomon for the Country Liberal Party. In the federal parliament, she was part of the Liberal Party group. She won her seat again in 2013 but was defeated in the 2016 election by Luke Gosling of the Labor Party.
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Early Life and Career
Natasha Griggs was born in Adelaide, but her family moved to the Northern Territory when she was just four weeks old. She grew up in Alice Springs and later moved to Darwin in 1987. There, she earned a Bachelor of Business degree from Northern Territory University, which is now called Charles Darwin University.
Before becoming a politician, Griggs worked in information technology (IT) for the Northern Territory government. She also held important manager positions in private companies.
In 2002, Griggs was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. After six months of treatment, she recovered and returned to work. She continues to support charities that work on cancer research and treatment. Griggs has also been a strong supporter of community groups. In 1992, she was named the Territory's top fundraiser after raising $30,000.
In 2008, she was elected to the Palmerston City Council, where other council members chose her to be the deputy mayor.
Political Career
In 2009, the Country Liberal Party selected Griggs to run for the seat of Solomon in the national parliament. At the time, the seat was held by Damian Hale of the Labor Party.
Member of Parliament
In the 2010 election, Griggs won the election. This made her the first woman to represent the Northern Territory in the House of Representatives. During her first term, she was a member of the opposition party.
Griggs was re-elected in the 2013 election when her party, the Coalition, formed the government. She continued to serve as a member of parliament, often called a backbencher.
Key Issues and Achievements
During her time in parliament, Griggs focused on several important issues.
- She argued against building a nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. She believed the location should be based on science, not politics.
- She fought to stop the removal of houses from RAAF Base Darwin.
- She worked to get ongoing support for soldiers returning home from overseas.
- She helped get 19 February, the anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin, declared a National Day of Observance.
From 2010 to 2013, Griggs served on three parliamentary committees. These groups study important topics like Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, National Capital and External Territories, and Australia's Immigration Detention Network.
2016 Election
During the 2016 election campaign, an incident involving Griggs was filmed on a smartphone at a public event. The video showed her approaching the person filming and telling them to stop. Griggs later said she felt it was a "union set-up."
At the election on 2 July 2016, Griggs lost her seat to Labor candidate Luke Gosling. The election was a difficult time for the Country Liberal Party government in the Northern Territory. Griggs's defeat was followed by a major loss for her party in the 2016 Territory election a few months later.
Administrator of Indian Ocean Territories
On 5 October 2017, Griggs was appointed as the Administrator for the territories of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. This role is similar to being a governor for these territories.
In March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Griggs declared a state of emergency in the territories. This meant that only residents and essential workers could enter, and they had to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival. Her term as Administrator ended on 4 October 2022.
Personal Life
Griggs is a founding member of Riding for the Disabled in the Northern Territory. She is also a Patron of SIDS and Kids NT, a charity that supports families affected by sudden infant death syndrome.
She lives in Palmerston with her husband, Paul.
