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 an Australian former politician. She served as the Administrator of the Australian Indian Ocean Territories from 2017 to 2022. Before this, she was a member of the House of Representatives, which is part of Australia's national parliament. She represented the area called Solomon in the Northern Territory from 2010 to 2016.
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Early Life and Career
Natasha Griggs was born in Adelaide, South Australia. When she was just four weeks old, her family moved to the Northern Territory. She grew up in Alice Springs, where she went to primary and secondary school. In 1987, she moved to Darwin to study business at the Northern Territory University (now Charles Darwin University).
After finishing her studies, Natasha worked in the IT (Information Technology) sector for the Northern Territory government. She also held important project and business manager jobs in both government and private companies.
In 2002, Natasha was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. She went through six months of treatment and recovered. She now supports charities and groups that work on cancer prevention, research, and treatment. She has also been a strong supporter of community groups, raising a lot of money for them. In 1992, she was named the top fundraiser in the Territory.
Before becoming a national politician, Natasha was elected as an Alderman (a local council member) for the Palmerston City Council in 2008. Her fellow council members then chose her to be the Deputy Mayor.
Political Journey
In 2009, Natasha was chosen by the Country Liberal Party to run for the federal seat of Solomon. This seat was held by Damian Hale from the Labor Party. In the 2010 election, Natasha won the seat, becoming the first opposition member to represent Solomon. She also became the first woman to represent the Northern Territory in the Australian House of Representatives. In federal parliament, she sat with the Liberal Party.
During her first term, Natasha spoke out against building a nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. She believed that science, not politics, should decide where such a facility should be located. She also worked to ensure support for Defence Force personnel returning from overseas duties. She helped gain support to make February 19, Bombing of Darwin Day, a National Day of Observance.
Natasha was re-elected in the 2013 election. She continued to serve as a backbencher, which means she was a regular member of parliament, not a minister.
Natasha was one of the people who helped start Riding for the Disabled NT, an organization that helps people with disabilities through horse riding. She is also a patron (a supporter) of SIDS and Kids NT, a charity that supports families affected by Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
She supported Tony Abbott when he was the leader of the Liberal Party and Prime Minister. When he was replaced by Malcolm Turnbull in 2015, Natasha stated that her loyalty would now be with the new leader.
2016 Election
During the 2016 election campaign, Natasha Griggs was involved in an incident that received national attention. At a public event, she approached someone who was filming her with a smartphone. She told the person not to video her, and the phone was reported to have hit the ground. Natasha later said she believed it was a "union set-up."
In the election held on 2 July 2016, Natasha Griggs lost her seat to Luke Gosling, the Labor candidate. This was a significant change for the Solomon division.
Her defeat in the federal election happened at a difficult time for the Country Liberal Party government in the Northern Territory. The party's reputation had been affected by several changes in leadership. Soon after the federal election, the Country Liberal Party also suffered a big loss in the 2016 Territory election.
Administrator of Indian Ocean Territories
On 5 October 2017, Natasha Griggs was appointed the Administrator of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. These are Australian territories in the Indian Ocean.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she declared a state of emergency in these territories on 18 March 2020. This meant that only local residents and essential workers were allowed to enter, and anyone arriving had to self-isolate for 14 days to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Personal Life
Natasha Griggs lives in Palmerston, Northern Territory, with her husband, Paul.
