George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

That is strictly right, Senator Hanson, but there is of course a cost limit. The number of judges in the respective federal courts or the courts to which you refer are limited by budget allocation. We have kept the number at a constant level throughout the life of this government. We have replaced judges when they have retired or, in some cases, resigned from the bench. Last year there was a delay in replacing a Family Court judge in Brisbane, I recall, but it is largely the case that we have kept the establishment of judges at a constant number.