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The Tim Carmody Affair review: Drama surrounding a controversial appointment

The Tim Carmody Affair by Rebecca Ananian-Walsh et al
The Tim Carmody Affair by Rebecca Ananian-Walsh et al Photo: Supplied

The Tim Carmody Affair

REBECCA ANANIAN-WELSH, GABRIELLE APPLEBY AND ANDREW LYNCH

NEWSOUTH, $29.99

In 2014 Tim Carmody, a Campbell Newman appointment, was sworn in as Chief Justice of Queensland. A controversial appointment from the start, his tenure ended in controversy less than a year later. The elite of Brisbane's law fraternity was deeply opposed to it and a conflict between the government and the judiciary erupted, revolving around the suitability and performance of the Chief Justice, with one observer noting "we are back fair and square in Joh Land". The implications for the Westminster system of responsible government and the separation of powers, in particular the relationship between government and judiciary, are a central concern in this study, the authors stressing that the "affair" concerns the whole country. The writing can be quite academic, although the drama and divisiveness of the appointment are strongly felt.