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Cory Bernardi questions Mick Gooda's appointment to royal commission Cory Bernardi questions Mick Gooda's appointment to royal commission
(21 days later)
The conservative Liberal senator Cory Bernardi has questioned the temperament and qualifications of the new Indigenous co-commissioner Mick Gooda, saying he was surprised his “ancestry seems a more important qualification than judicial experience”.The conservative Liberal senator Cory Bernardi has questioned the temperament and qualifications of the new Indigenous co-commissioner Mick Gooda, saying he was surprised his “ancestry seems a more important qualification than judicial experience”.
Gooda, the former social justice commissioner, was recently appointed co-commissioner with Margaret White of the royal commission into juvenile detention after the revelations in Four Corners showing the alleged abuse of children.Gooda, the former social justice commissioner, was recently appointed co-commissioner with Margaret White of the royal commission into juvenile detention after the revelations in Four Corners showing the alleged abuse of children.
Bernardi said while there was no doubt that the broadcast images were confronting, Gooda’s tweet urging the federal government to sack the NT government was a concern.Bernardi said while there was no doubt that the broadcast images were confronting, Gooda’s tweet urging the federal government to sack the NT government was a concern.
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“The appropriateness of the appointments is the subject of debate but suffice it to say that, in the case of one appointee, I am most surprised that ancestry seems a more important qualification than judicial experience,” Bernardi wrote on his website.“The appropriateness of the appointments is the subject of debate but suffice it to say that, in the case of one appointee, I am most surprised that ancestry seems a more important qualification than judicial experience,” Bernardi wrote on his website.
“The fact that he had already rendered his verdict via social media prior to his appointment may also concern some but this seems to have been excused by many as emotive intemperance.“The fact that he had already rendered his verdict via social media prior to his appointment may also concern some but this seems to have been excused by many as emotive intemperance.
“Perhaps not the ideal characteristic for an independent reviewer of a highly charged matter, however, the decision of appointment has been taken by the prime minister and the attorney general and we are reliant on their prudence and judgment in this instance.”“Perhaps not the ideal characteristic for an independent reviewer of a highly charged matter, however, the decision of appointment has been taken by the prime minister and the attorney general and we are reliant on their prudence and judgment in this instance.”
The appointment of Gooda and White came after the first appointee, Brian Martin, resigned over a perceived conflict of interest over his daughter’s previous employment with the NT attorney general’s department.The appointment of Gooda and White came after the first appointee, Brian Martin, resigned over a perceived conflict of interest over his daughter’s previous employment with the NT attorney general’s department.
Martin’s appointment had caused some Indigenous leaders to criticise the Coalition, accusing the government of not consulting widely enough with Indigenous people.Martin’s appointment had caused some Indigenous leaders to criticise the Coalition, accusing the government of not consulting widely enough with Indigenous people.
Bernardi has been a critic of Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership and policies since the Liberal party dumped Tony Abbott as prime minister. He has started the group Australian Conservatives “to make the Liberal party stronger”.Bernardi has been a critic of Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership and policies since the Liberal party dumped Tony Abbott as prime minister. He has started the group Australian Conservatives “to make the Liberal party stronger”.
The attorney general, George Brandis, defended Gooda’s Twitter reaction earlier this week, saying any Indigenous leader who had not commented in the past on juvenile detention was “not worth his salt”.The attorney general, George Brandis, defended Gooda’s Twitter reaction earlier this week, saying any Indigenous leader who had not commented in the past on juvenile detention was “not worth his salt”.
Related: George Brandis has made a hash of the royal commission into juvenile detention | Richard Ackland
He also used his newsletter to criticise the Four Corners program, saying it had ignored the context of “serious injury and damage” that juvenile corrections officers allegedly suffered as a result of “violent offenders”. And he questioned why the program was run so close to the election.He also used his newsletter to criticise the Four Corners program, saying it had ignored the context of “serious injury and damage” that juvenile corrections officers allegedly suffered as a result of “violent offenders”. And he questioned why the program was run so close to the election.
“Such information gives me cause to question why the ABC chose now to present their story,” Bernardi writes. “Could it have anything to do with the Northern Territory election due this month?“Such information gives me cause to question why the ABC chose now to present their story,” Bernardi writes. “Could it have anything to do with the Northern Territory election due this month?
“Surely, such a politically charged program wouldn’t present events that occurred under a previous Labor administration; events that had already been investigated and resolved by a court of law, as new material damning of a conservative government just weeks out from an election?”“Surely, such a politically charged program wouldn’t present events that occurred under a previous Labor administration; events that had already been investigated and resolved by a court of law, as new material damning of a conservative government just weeks out from an election?”
The ABC was contacted for comment.The ABC was contacted for comment.