The Federal Government yesterday finally capitulated to lobbying efforts to retain a Federal Court Registrar in Tasmania. The appropriate amendment was moved and passed in the Senate yesterday, Liberal Senator Guy Barnett said.
“It is a victory for our justice system, but should never have taken so many months of hard yakka,” Senator Barnett said.
“Labor’s plan was to abolish Tasmania’s District Registrar in the Federal Court and remove any local legally trained professional administering the Court. Tasmania was to be treated unlike any other state.
“I raised these concerns directly with the Federal Attorney-General on 23 July 2009 during his visit to Tasmania, wrote to him directly and raised the matter in the Senate.
“The Law Society should be congratulated for their lobbying efforts. The Law Society was extremely concerned by Labor’s plans. I know they wrote to the Chief Justice of the Federal Court, to the Federal Attorney-General and to Federal MPs. I enjoyed working with the Law Society of Tasmania and others to right this injustice.
“I also acknowledge the good efforts of Senator Eric Abetz and Senator Bob Brown on this issue. It is a good outcome when politicians of different colours stand up for Tasmania” Senator Barnett concluded.