Guy Barnett (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee for inquiry and report by 25 June 2009:

Australia’s judicial system and the role of judges, with particular reference to:

(a)

the procedure for appointment and method of termination;

(b)

the term of appointment, including the desirability of a compulsory retirement age, and the merit of full-time, part-time or other arrangements;

(c)

appropriate qualifications;

(d)

jurisdictional issues;

(e)

the cost of delivering justice;

(f)

the timeliness of judicial decisions;

(g)

the judicial complaints handling system;

(h)

the interface between the federal and state judicial system; and

(i)

other matters relating and incidental thereto.

Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move an amendment to the motion.

Leave granted.

I thank the Senate. I move the amendment circulated in the chamber:

Omit all words after “inquiry and report”, substitute “by 17 August 2009:

Australia’s judicial system and the role of judges, with particular reference to:

(a)

the procedure for appointment and method of termination;

(b)

the term of appointment, including the desirability of a compulsory retirement age, and the merit of full-time, part-time or other arrangements;

(c)

appropriate qualifications;

(d)

jurisdictional issues;

(e)

the cost of delivering justice;

(f)

the timeliness of judicial decisions;

(g)

the judicial complaints handling system;

(h)

the interface between the federal and state judicial system;

(i)

the ability of people to access legal representation;

(j)

the adequacy of legal aid;

(k)

measures to reduce the length and complexity of litigation;

(l)

alternative means of delivering justice;

(m)

the adequacy of funding and resource arrangements for community legal centres;

(n)

the ability of Indigenous people to access justice; and

(o)

other matters relating and incidental thereto”.

Question agreed to.

Original question, as amended, agreed to.