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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 760 asked in the Legislative Council on 31 August 2022 by Hon Dr Brian Walker

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

JUDICIAL OFFICERS — COMPLAINTS AGAINST

760. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the parliamentary secretary representing the Attorney General:

I refer the Attorney General to the establishment of the Judicial Commission of New South Wales in 1986, the Judicial Conduct Commissioner for South Australia in 2015 and the Judicial Commission of Victoria in 2016, each of which has responsibility for the independent consideration of complaints about serving judicial officers within its own jurisdiction.

(1) Does the McGowan government have any plans to legislate for a similar body or individual here in Western Australia?

(2) If not, what recourse does a citizen of Western Australia have if they wish to make a complaint about the conduct of a judicial officer?

Hon MATTHEW SWINBOURN replied:

I thank the member for some notice of the question. The following is based on information provided to me by the Attorney General.

(1) Yes. The establishment of a legislative-based judicial commission is a commitment of this government.

(2) If a person has any concerns about the behaviour of a judicial officer, they are able to raise those concerns with the relevant head of jurisdiction in accordance with the Protocol for complaints against judicial officers in Western Australian courts. I table a copy of the protocol.

[See paper 1523.]