Graham (Gray) Connolly, a reliable conservative, was hoisted onto the AAT in the dying days of Brother Scott’s government.
He had also been counsel assisting Tubby Callinan’s review of the tribunal in 2019, so it was serendipitous that he landed a spot as a part-time member.
His position as a government appointee on a quasi-judicial outfit has not cramped his style as a commentator on anything that takes his fancy.
A recent example is his contribution to the Daily Telegraph expressing his disapproval of Sam Mostyn’s appointment as governor general:
“It is a fair criticism that Ms Mostyn agreed to represent the King despite a history of endorsing silly and faddish ideas, earning praise from Craig Foster and Peter FitzSimons …
“The Mostyn affair has shown – were there any doubt – that much of our politics and media is conducted with timidity and silliness, in a Justin Trudeau miasma of hackery and press announcements rather than merit and accomplishments.”
This, while drawing his taxpayer funded wages from the AAT. The question is begged – would he have accepted the appointment had it been made by Mostyn rather that General Hurley, husband of the singing budgie?
He also engaged on Twitter/X with Sky News journalist Laura Jayes when she had the cheek to welcome Mostyn’s appointment. He retorted that the GG should not be “a therapist or an ex-Labor staffer.”
By-the-by, Mostyn’s husband is a professional colleague of Gra Gra’s at the NSW bar ‘n’ grill.
Last May, he subjected readers of The Sydney Morning Herald to his deconstitutionalised model for a revised Voice.
Connolly: venting
Since his appointment two years ago Senior Member Connolly has produced only three published tribunal decisions.
In a protection visa decision in February 2023, he goes on a bizarre frolic about the role of the Crown – under the heading “The Australian Crown and the Parens Patriae Jurisdiction”:
“While not a ground argued and/or relied upon by the applicant for the disposition of this case, I think it is important to make the following observations, which are relevant to other cases of this general kind, in which Australia is asked to provide a protection visa to an applicant, and to young children, born and growing up in Australia, but who are not citizens.
The particular status of Australia as a monarchical polity in which the Constitution (via s 61) vests the executive power in the Crown, to be exercised by the Governor-General as the monarch’s representative, is of critical importance. The monarch is the head of the federal executive and the Governor-General is charged with …”
Zzzzz
What are the chances that Gray will continue to make his unique contribution as a member of the new tribunal, once the legislation winds its way through the senate?
Patently absurd
The hoary old KC issue has got pulses racing at the Tasmanian bar ‘n’ grill.
The minutes of the bar’s AGM on April 4, attended by as many as 17 members, record under general business:
“Following a brief discussion concerning SC/KC elections, it was proposed that council survey its membership.”
Major General Aziz Melick AO SC wants to trade in his senior counsel’s badge for some decent royal plumage. He issued this missive just before the AGM:
“I intend to raise the issue of reintroducing KCs at this afternoon’s meeting.
There are many disadvantages with the current system including:
The grant of SC is not by letters patent;
Many individuals and corporations mistakenly consider KC indicative of a higher standard than SC;
Many companies with offices in Tasmania are headquartered in Victoria where the vast majority of SCs reverted to QC when it was reintroduced, and
In the other two states where QCs were reintroduced, the vast majority of SCs also reverted to QC.
I suggest the best system would be one where appointments to SC of KC would be by letters patent and individuals, upon being granted silk, could opt for whichever appointment they prefer.
I look forward to discussions on this issue.”
This was supported by Slippery Pete Slipper “BA LLB”.
Melick: wanting more ornamentation
Less than five years ago Aziz had also agitated for restoration of the royal bauble. His campaign theme concentrated on the confusion between Star of Courage and Senior Counsel and the loss of briefs to people who had been gonged QC.
See: Order of the silken quoll
A survey was held at that time, which was opposed by Philip Jackson SC who told his colleagues:
“In such a small bar, and small profession overall, can we not do better that a survey conducted by a monkey?”
Melick is a member of the board of the Australian Memorial whose term in office is rapidly drawing to a close.
He’s also a part-time deputy president of the AAT, and he’s been so distracted by his missing regal feathers that he fell into arrears with his judgment writing.
In Fisher and Comcare (Compensation) Act he took 309 paragraphs and 20 months to deal with a former Centrelink employee who was stuck in a lift. The Deputy President decided the applicant had a pre-existing medical issue which was not exacerbated by the lift.
Admittedly, the major general has had a large number of other commitments, including president of the RSL and chairman of the Integrity Commission of Van Diemen’s Land.
And here we are again with another survey – and the same recycled malarky