Page 551 - Week 02 - Thursday, 21 February 2019
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Thursday, 21 February 2019
MADAM SPEAKER (Ms J Burch) took the chair at 10 am, made a formal recognition that the Assembly was meeting on the lands of the traditional custodians, and asked members to stand in silence and pray or reflect on their responsibilities to the people of the Australian Capital Territory.
The Hon Jeffrey Miles AO
Motion of condolence
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Social Inclusion and Equality, Minister for Tourism and Special Events and Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment) (10.01): I move:
That this Assembly expresses its deep regret at the passing of the Honourable Jeffrey Miles AO, who served as Chief Justice of the ACT Supreme Court from 1985 until 2002 and tenders its profound sympathy to his family, friends and colleagues in their bereavement.
I am sure I speak on behalf of all my colleagues in the Assembly in expressing our deep regret at the passing of the Hon Jeffrey Miles AO, who served as our Chief Justice from 1985 until 2002.
Justice Miles was admitted as a solicitor of the New South Wales Supreme Court in 1958 and to the New South Wales and Northern Territory bars in 1965. His Honour practised as a barrister until his appointment to the judiciary in 1980, including working as a New South Wales public defender from 1978.
During his career at the bar, His Honour defended conscientious objectors, anti-conscription demonstrators, and demonstrators who opposed the Vietnam War. He was also closely associated with the Council for Civil Liberties, and this work is testament to Justice Miles’s resolve and commitment to upholding his sense of moral obligations.
In 1985 Justice Miles was appointed to the ACT Supreme Court, where he served as Chief Justice until his retirement in 2002. During this time, His Honour presided over numerous notable civil and criminal matters, including leading an inquiry into the fitness of David Eastman to be tried. Justice Miles also played a leading role in ensuring that the constitutional arrangements for the Australian Capital Territory during the period of transition to self-government included the securing of judicial independence.
After his retirement in 2002, Justice Miles continued serving the legal profession as an acting judge for the New South Wales and ACT supreme courts and on the Law Council of Australia’s human rights observer panel.
His contribution to the Australian and ACT judicial systems and community was significant. This contribution was reflected when His Honour was made an Officer in
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