Monday 24 April 2017

Newcastle MP calling for replacement family Court Judge

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

Federal Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon is stepping up pressure on the Turnbull Government to immediately appoint a replacement for a departed Newcastle family Court Judge.

She is calling on Attorney General George Brandis to appoint a replacement after Judge Matthew Myers left the city in February.

The already long wait for families to have matters heard and resolved in court has become even longer.

Cases can often involve domestic violence and Sharon Claydon says the delay in appointing a judge is increasing the trauma families are already experiencing.

"These are cases that often need quick and prompt settlements. When you've got violence involved in family law matters they're not cases that can be mediated out and nor should they be. You don't want to put a victim of family violence out with a perpetrator against their will."

She's also worried Judge Myers will be replaced with a "fly in, fly out" panel of judges that always change and aren't consistent.

"They need some certainty about where they're going to be living, and how the rest of their lives are taking shape. that's not an unreasonable expectation. All is put in jeopardy when the attorney general sits on his hands and doesn't appoint a replacement," said Sharon Claydon.