- Judges' pay rise 'is inappropriate'
- By Nicola Berkovic
- The Australian
- 12/05/2009 Make a Comment (1)
- Contributed by: moses ( 6 articles in 2009 )
QUEENSLAND Attorney-General Cameron Dick has warned that a hefty pay rise for High Court and Federal Court judges is inappropriate, given the tough economic times.
As revealed by The Australian yesterday, the Commonwealth Remuneration Tribunal is considering giving High Court and Federal Court judges a 6 per cent pay top-up this year, above any across-the-board pay rise it awards to all judicial officers.
The move has sparked deep concern among family lawyers, who warn a decision to award Federal Court judges more than Family Court judges would "drive a wedge" between the two courts.
It is understood the Family Court is unhappy about the proposal and has received legal advice from leading silk Bret Walker SC, which raises concerns about breaking the long-standing principle of equality between Federal Court and Family Court judges.
However, a spokeswoman for the Family Court said it would be inappropriate to comment.
If the tribunal decided to award a 4 per cent across-the-board increase to federal courts and tribunals, as it has done for the past three years, High Court and Federal Court judges and officers could be in line for a 10 per cent pay rise.
The decision would probably flow on to the much larger state and territory judiciaries, putting strain on their cash-strapped governments. Mr Dick confirmed the pay increase would automatically flow through to Queensland's judges and magistrates, under the state's Judicial Remuneration Act.
"While Queensland will accept the final decision of the tribunal, in these tough economic times the Bligh Government does not believe large pay rises would be appropriate," he said.
Geoffrey Sinclair, the chair of the Law Council's family law section, said giving more money to Federal Court judges than to Family Court judges would create unnecessary division between the two courts.
"If there's not already wedges between the courts, it's going to drive further wedges," he said.
"There should absolutely be parity between all federal judges. What you're getting otherwise is a perception that those who are doing work for the Family Court are second class or inferior."
The proposed 6 per cent pay top-up would lift High Court Chief Justice Robert French's base salary by $26,000 from $433,570 to $459,584, on top of perks including a commonwealth car and driver.
Federal Court Chief Justice Michael Black's base salary would increase $22,000 from $367,150 to $389,179 -- outstripping Kevin Rudd, who earns $330,356.
Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland has expressed strong concerns about the move.
As revealed by The Australian yesterday, the Commonwealth Remuneration Tribunal is considering giving High Court and Federal Court judges a 6 per cent pay top-up this year, above any across-the-board pay rise it awards to all judicial officers.
The move has sparked deep concern among family lawyers, who warn a decision to award Federal Court judges more than Family Court judges would "drive a wedge" between the two courts.
It is understood the Family Court is unhappy about the proposal and has received legal advice from leading silk Bret Walker SC, which raises concerns about breaking the long-standing principle of equality between Federal Court and Family Court judges.
However, a spokeswoman for the Family Court said it would be inappropriate to comment.
If the tribunal decided to award a 4 per cent across-the-board increase to federal courts and tribunals, as it has done for the past three years, High Court and Federal Court judges and officers could be in line for a 10 per cent pay rise.
The decision would probably flow on to the much larger state and territory judiciaries, putting strain on their cash-strapped governments. Mr Dick confirmed the pay increase would automatically flow through to Queensland's judges and magistrates, under the state's Judicial Remuneration Act.
"While Queensland will accept the final decision of the tribunal, in these tough economic times the Bligh Government does not believe large pay rises would be appropriate," he said.
Geoffrey Sinclair, the chair of the Law Council's family law section, said giving more money to Federal Court judges than to Family Court judges would create unnecessary division between the two courts.
"If there's not already wedges between the courts, it's going to drive further wedges," he said.
"There should absolutely be parity between all federal judges. What you're getting otherwise is a perception that those who are doing work for the Family Court are second class or inferior."
The proposed 6 per cent pay top-up would lift High Court Chief Justice Robert French's base salary by $26,000 from $433,570 to $459,584, on top of perks including a commonwealth car and driver.
Federal Court Chief Justice Michael Black's base salary would increase $22,000 from $367,150 to $389,179 -- outstripping Kevin Rudd, who earns $330,356.
Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland has expressed strong concerns about the move.
Source: https://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25465485-5013404,00.html
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