Part 1 Amendments to Judicial Conduct Commissioner and Judicial Conduct Panel Act 2004
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Attorney-General): Perhaps I should make a few preliminary comments before Mr Chauvel makes a contribution. The main changes in Part 1 deal with the creation of the position of deputy commissioner. This person, as with the commissioner, will be appointed on the nomination of the House. The Attorney-General is required to consult the Chief Justice about the proposed appointment, and the deputy commissioner will act when the commissioner has a conflict of interest or is otherwise unavailable to examine complaints.
Part 1 Amendments to Judicial Conduct Commissioner and Judicial Conduct Panel Act 2004
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Attorney-General): The member Charles Chauvel raises a couple of substantive points that are worthy of reply. The first relates to the alleged call on the road-to-Damascus change of view. There was a real concern on the part of my party about interference with the conduct of the judiciary.
I move, That the Judicial Matters Bill be now read a second time. This is an omnibus bill that amends the Judicial Conduct Commissioner and Judicial Conduct Panel Act 2004, and also amends the Judicature Act 1908.
