Legal Aid NT board member speaks out about string of resignations following appointment of new director
Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby appointed South Australian barrister Catherine Voumard the director of LANT earlier this month, despite an independent selection panel deeming her unsuitable for the job.
The decision prompted three of the LANT board's seven members, and its only non-government members, to resign from the organisation.
The ABC has confirmed those three former members are Ali Nur, Tessa Czislowski and the board's chair Duncan McConnel SC.
Mr Nur served as the board's community interest representative for nine years, but he resigned last week, saying Ms Boothby's decision to override the panel's recommendations was "unfair" and lacked transparency.
He said the LANT director vacancy was first advertised in July last year, when an independent advisory panel headed by Mr McConnel was set up to assess potential candidates.
In October, the panel provided Ms Boothby with a report recommending three suitable applicants.
Ms Boothby selected one of those three, but the chosen applicant subsequently withdrew her application for the role.
The two remaining applicants were rejected by the attorney-general, forcing the panel to reconvene.
Mr Nur said the director position was re-advertised in November, at a time when LANT was under significant financial and resourcing stress.
He said Ms Voumard was one of 18 applicants in the second application round, but she did not progress to the interview stage.
In February, the panel put forward three applicants as suitable for the position, with one selected as a high-calibre candidate.
However, Ms Boothby rejected all three in favour of Ms Voumard.
"The minister didn't give the board any reason why," Mr Nur said.
"We went through a thorough process, impartial process, a fair process … and now the minister says 'it doesn't matter who meets or doesn't meet the criteria, this is my captain's pick'.
"I don't think that's good enough."
Mr Nur said he felt the move indicated Ms Boothby had "lost faith" in the board.
"Sadly, we feel the minister doesn't give a hoot," he said.
In a letter sent to Ms Boothby last week, Mr McConnel said he was "deeply disappointed" by her choice to override the panel's decision.
"Ms Voumard's appointment appears to have been based on reasons other than merit or otherwise marks a serious departure of judgement between the Attorney and the [Legal Aid] Commission," he wrote.
NT Bar Association president Mary Chalmers SC has also called for transparency about the appointment process, saying selections "made contrary to the advice of a panel" could "damage community and organisational confidence".
Faced with questions over her decision in NT parliament on Wednesday, Ms Boothby backed the move and said Ms Voumard would bring "diverse experience" to the role.
"She's worked for Legal Aid before, she's worked for NAAJA [the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency] before … and guess what? She also worked for Maleys, which is excellent because they are a good, local, large, experienced law firm in the Northern Territory."
Maleys Barristers & Solicitors is headed by former Country Liberal Party MLA Peter Maley, who is also the brother of current deputy chief minister Gerard Maley.
Mr Nur said LANT was yet to recover from the financial issues it has been facing in recent months.
In October, the organisation indicated it would have to cut critical services due to a lack of funding and skyrocketing demand.
"We're having absolute difficulty recruiting competent lawyers … we can't retain the ones we've got," Mr Nur said.
He said Ms Voumard's appointment risked undermining trust in the organisation at a time when consistent and experienced leadership was essential.
"For a healthy, sound justice system, we need a stable, qualified workforce," he said.
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