The President of the state’s ‘super tribunal’ will commence a new two-year term tomorrow in his self-proclaimed journey to guarantee Queenslanders “champagne quality civil justice on a home-brew budget”.
Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal President Justice Martin Daubney AM will begin his second stint as the jurisdiction’s chief up to and including 15 October 2022.
Justice Martin Daubney AM
Appointed a judge of the Supreme Court in Queensland in July 2007, Justice Daubney took on the role of QCAT President on 17 October 2017.
On August 28, Queensland Governor Paul de Jersey AC, acting on advice from the State Government’s Executive Council, renewed Justice Daubney’s role as QCAT President for a further two years.
As President, Justice Daubney’s roles and responsibilities include:
- the efficient operation of the tribunal
- giving directions about the practices and procedures of the tribunal
- overseeing the selection process for members
- the management of members and adjudicators
- as a member, hearing significant matters in the tribunal
- developing a positive and cohesive culture
- advising the Attorney-General about how QCAT could better meet its objectives, and about the ongoing effectiveness of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2009 and the enabling Acts.
QCAT was established in 2009 to amalgamate almost 20 tribunals, panels and committees which covered a myriad of minor legal disagreements – from discrimination, the needs of children and the elderly, and neighbourhood disputes, to the supervision and standards of certain professions like doctors, nurses and teachers – into one central tribunal.
During celebrations to commemorate QCAT’s 10th anniversary earlier this year, Justice Daubney told Proctor the so-called “people’s court” had come a very long way in a decade.
“Marking QCAT’s 10th anniversary allowed us to look back with a sense of satisfaction at what had been able to be achieved…within the constraints of a very modest budget,” he said in February.
“Registry staff work hard to assist the many self-represented litigants who come through our door literally and electronically each day, to keep the tribunal running efficiently.
“All tribunal members and adjudicators work hard in assisting parties to resolve disputes wherever possible and, when settlements cannot be reached, to give reasoned decisions.
“In short, QCAT strives to provide Queenslanders with champagne quality civil justice on a home-brew budget.”
However, Justice Daubney recently highlighted the many more serious challenges ahead for the tribunal in the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
“COVID time has been, and continues to be, an extraordinarily disruptive period for QCAT,” Justice Daubney said in his President’s message in QCAT’s 2019-20 Annual Report.
“The steps which needed to be taken to safeguard members, registry staff and the members of the public who access QCAT had a very significant impact on our ability and capacity to deliver frontline civil justice services.”
Read Justice Daubney’s President’s message on QLS Proctor.
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