Page 816 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 6 April 2022
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Critically, the resourcing will enhance the timeliness and consistency of approach in coronial matters.
Throughout 2021 and 2022 this government also supported the courts by progressing a number of key appointments. The government was particularly pleased to welcome the new Chief Justice, Lucy McCallum, who commenced in the role earlier in March. This makes Her Honour the ACT’s sixth Chief Justice of the ACT Supreme Court and the second woman to take on the role.
In addition to this, the government has appointed a new resident judge for the ACT Supreme Court and two new magistrates to the ACT Magistrates Court, including one who will be the ACT’s first dedicated coroner. The government also recently announced the resident judge to replace Justice Elkaim upon his retirement in late 2022, minimising the impact on the Supreme Court that might have been created from this vacancy.
These judicial recruitment processes progressed by the executive are rigorous and are conducted in strict accordance with the legislated requirements of the relevant determinations, such as the Magistrates Court (Magistrates Appointment Requirements) Determination 2009, the Magistrates Court (Special Magistrates Appointment Requirements) Determination 2015 (No 1) and the Supreme Court (Resident Judges Appointment Requirements) Determination 2015. These determinations set out the selection process and criteria for these judicial officer roles, as established by the executive and as required under their respective primary legislation.
As is the process for judicial recruitment campaigns, nominations are sought from the local legal profession, including the Law Society of the ACT and the ACT Bar Association, within the courts, from community legal centres and also from my counterparts interstate. The ACT’s judicial recruitment processes continue to attract strong candidates from across the nation due to the reputation of our courts and the liveability of our city. We are in a privileged position here in the ACT of having the opportunity to choose from a high calibre of applicants for appointment.
It continues to be my priority, as Attorney-General and first law officer for the ACT, to work closely with the Chief Justice and Chief Magistrate to proactively monitor and consider the judicial resourcing needs of the courts, to make sure each component is working effectively to support an effective justice system in the territory. The government acknowledges that the ACT’s coronial process is a vital part of the judicial system that deserves ongoing focus. It is one of my priorities, as Attorney-General, to continuously improve the coronial system to ensure that cases are finalised as quickly and as sensitively as possible and that the benefits to the community of coronial recommendations for public health and safety improvements are realised.
Madam Speaker, as many members will know, the parliamentary and governing agreement for the Tenth Legislative Assembly committed to exploring the establishment of a dedicated full-time Coroner’s Court, a commitment I am pleased to advise has been met. As mentioned, the 2021-22 ACT budget announcement included a $3.2 million investment for the appointment of a dedicated coroner and support staff.
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