Top legal people for people's tribunal

24/11/04
Three of Western Australia's top legal minds have been appointed to head the new State Administrative Tribunal.
Attorney General Jim McGinty said Supreme Court Judge Michael Barker had been appointed president of the tribunal, with District Court Judge John Chaney and barrister Judith Eckert as deputy presidents.
Mr McGinty said he was delighted that a judge the calibre of Michael Barker would preside over the new tribunal.
"The presence of Justice Michael Barker will enhance public confidence in the tribunal's integrity, and ensure its independence and impartiality," he said.
"It will also ensure consistent decision making of the highest quality."
Prior to his appointment, Justice Barker chaired the West Australian Civil and Administrative Review Tribunal Taskforce, whose report formed the basis for the establishment of the new State Administrative Tribunal (SAT).
The Attorney General said Judge Chaney's appointment as deputy president of the tribunal had been strongly supported by the legal profession.
"Judge Chaney is highly regarded by the legal fraternity," he said.
"He has extensive experience in the administrative law area and is considered to have an ideal temperament for the kind of work which will come before the tribunal."
Mr McGinty said Judy Eckert's appointment as deputy president had also received broad support from all stakeholders.
"Ms Eckert is eminently qualified, having developed the legislative package for the SAT and so she knows nearly every area of law and government operations," he said.
Ms Eckert will first be appointed as a District Court Judge.
The Attorney General said the SAT would give ordinary Western Australians a virtual one-stop-shop to appeal against decisions made by Government and industry boards.
"For the first time, Western Australians will have a cohesive new jurisdiction to provide a simple and reliable framework for the resolution of a wide range of disputes and appeals," he said.
"There are 48 boards and tribunals and a range of administrative and Ministerial appeal processes which will now fall under the SAT umbrella.
"The SAT will consolidate over 600 decisions and appeal rights arising under 137 Acts. It will cover everything from an appeal in a complex state revenue matter involving millions of dollars through to a decision about whether a dangerous dog should be put down."
The SAT will also take over the disciplinary functions of dozens of self-regulated trades and professions, including doctors, lawyers, architects, nurses, motor vehicle dealers, plumbers, finance brokers and real estate agents.
The Tribunal, which will have an annual budget of $10.2million, is scheduled to commence operations at 12 St Georges Terrace, Perth from January 1, 2005.

Functions to be incorporated into the State Administrative Tribunal include:

Equal Opportunity Tribunal	Chiropractors Registration Board
Commercial Tribunal	Nurses Board of WA
Retirement Villages Disputes Tribunal	Osteopaths Registration Board
Strata Titles Referee	Podiatrists Registration Board
Fisheries Objections Tribunal	Veterinary Surgeons' Board
Local Government Appeals	Finance Brokers Supervisory Board
Land Valuation Tribunal	Motor Vehicle Dealers Licensing Board
Reviews under Taxation Administration Act	Real Estate and Business Agents Supervisory Board
Reviews under Land Tax Assessment Acts	Settlement Agents Supervisory Board
Reviews under Pay Roll Tax Assessment	Hairdressers Registration Board of WA
Stamp Act Appeals	Occupational Therapists Registration Board
Reviews under Petroleum Act	Medical Board of Western Australia
Reviews under Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act	Electrical Licensing Board
Appeals against license and registration refusals	Land Valuers Licensing Board
Water Resources Appeals Tribunal	Optometrists Registration Board
Western Australian Gas Review Board	Painters Registration Board
Town Planning Appeals Tribunal	Plumbers Licensing Board
Architects' Board of WA	Psychologists Board of WA
Guardianship and Administration Board	Builders Registration Board
Land Surveyors Licensing Board	Dental Board of WA
Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal