MEDIA STATEMENT
11th August 2014
Independent inquiry into political activities by Magistrate Peter Maley.
Jon Tippett QC gave an interview to ABC TV’s 7.30NT on Friday night concerning a call by the Northern Territory Bar Association (NTBA) for an independent inquiry into political activities by Magistrate Peter Maley. In the course of that interview, Mr Tippett purported to express the view of the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) as ‘supporting’ Mr Maley.
NAAJA has, in fact, not made any public statement on this issue and had not discussed it with Mr Tippett. NAAJA believes it would not be appropriate to express support for any particular magistrate, given the need to ensure that our clients have confidence in our ability to represent them with complete independence.
NAAJA is aware of the position of the NTBA. NAAJA regards it as appropriate for the NTBA to have raised these issues in the interests of ensuring public confidence in the administration of justice and to ensure that the judiciary is seen to be independent from government.