Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Stoker, you participated in the Senate inquiry with me. You are obviously performing a different role here this evening. I'm wondering whether you recall the Senate being advised that there were five judicial vacancies at the moment, and that's not including the four additional positions that were announced in the budget. Can you seek some advice from the officers as to why those vacancies haven't been filled? In so doing, perhaps you could also advise the chamber why, when the Attorney-General is given significant notice of impending retirements, it has taken so long to fill the vacancies.