- One-stop shop for family law
- By Michael Pelly
- The Australian
- 03/10/2008 Make a Comment
- Contributed by: SpongeBob ( 3 articles in 2008 )
THE federal judiciary has lost one of its top administrators in a clear sign the Rudd Government is preparing to create a one-stop shop for family law.
Federal Magistrates Court chief executive John Mathieson has joined the NSW Attorney General's Department only weeks after the report on the federal courts system by private consultant Des Semple was delivered to Attorney-General Robert McClelland.
Mr Mathieson had considerable input into the report, which is tipped to recommend that the court be dismantled only nine years after it opened its doors.
The family law division would become part of the Family Court and the general division -- which includes immigration law -- would be diverted to another forum, such as the Federal Court.
One court insider said Mr Mathieson had "seen the writing on the wall".
Mr Semple also considered a Courts Administration Authority for the Commonwealth, but likely streamlining reduced the chances of such a move.
Mr Mathieson could not be contacted for comment, but NSW Attorney General's Department director-general Laurie Glanfield was clearly delighted with his latest recruit.
Mr Mathieson would assume the role of court performance and support director and would co-ordinate the financial and staff services across all courts and tribunals supported by the department, he said.
"The position will be responsible for delivering key projects of court reform, including those flowing from quality improvement initiatives and the implementation of the JusticeLink electronic case management system running in the Supreme and District Courts for criminal matters," Mr Glanfield said.
"JusticeLink is being rolled out over the next 12 months and implementing process and service reforms to take advantage of the new technology will be part of John's responsibilities."
Mr Mathieson was also a former Federal Court district registrar for NSW and the ACT and a senior manager with the commonwealth Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the Family Court of Australia. Along with Chief Magistrate John Pascoe, he revamped the FMC after it suffered early growth pains.
"His considerable experience and expertise in court administration will ensure NSW maintains its position as the pre-eminent Australian jurisdiction in innovative court admin and reform," Mr Glanfield said.
He declined to comment on the Semple report or Mr Mathieson's departure.
Federal Magistrates Court chief executive John Mathieson has joined the NSW Attorney General's Department only weeks after the report on the federal courts system by private consultant Des Semple was delivered to Attorney-General Robert McClelland.
Mr Mathieson had considerable input into the report, which is tipped to recommend that the court be dismantled only nine years after it opened its doors.
The family law division would become part of the Family Court and the general division -- which includes immigration law -- would be diverted to another forum, such as the Federal Court.
One court insider said Mr Mathieson had "seen the writing on the wall".
Mr Semple also considered a Courts Administration Authority for the Commonwealth, but likely streamlining reduced the chances of such a move.
Mr Mathieson could not be contacted for comment, but NSW Attorney General's Department director-general Laurie Glanfield was clearly delighted with his latest recruit.
Mr Mathieson would assume the role of court performance and support director and would co-ordinate the financial and staff services across all courts and tribunals supported by the department, he said.
"The position will be responsible for delivering key projects of court reform, including those flowing from quality improvement initiatives and the implementation of the JusticeLink electronic case management system running in the Supreme and District Courts for criminal matters," Mr Glanfield said.
"JusticeLink is being rolled out over the next 12 months and implementing process and service reforms to take advantage of the new technology will be part of John's responsibilities."
Mr Mathieson was also a former Federal Court district registrar for NSW and the ACT and a senior manager with the commonwealth Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the Family Court of Australia. Along with Chief Magistrate John Pascoe, he revamped the FMC after it suffered early growth pains.
"His considerable experience and expertise in court administration will ensure NSW maintains its position as the pre-eminent Australian jurisdiction in innovative court admin and reform," Mr Glanfield said.
He declined to comment on the Semple report or Mr Mathieson's departure.
Source: https://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24437705-17044,00.html
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