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ABC News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Legal Aid NT board member speaks out about string of resignations following appointment of new director
A long-standing board member of Legal Aid NT (LANT) has claimed the NT attorney-general ignored formal recommendations for the organisation's director position over two rounds of recruitment, before making a "captain's pick" appointment to the role. 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.
ABC News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Legal Aid NT chair resigns amid backlash over government's 'captain's pick' for new director
The chair of Legal Aid NT (LANT) has resigned over a "captain's pick" appointment of the organisation's new director, who was deemed unfit for the role by an independent selection panel. Northern Territory Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby appointed South Australian barrister Catherine Voumard to take on the role earlier this month. It came after an independent committee, headed by LANT chair Duncan McConnel SC, declined to interview Ms Voumard for the position after determining she did not meet the selection criteria. In a letter sent to Ms Boothby last week and obtained by the ABC, Mr McConnel said he was "deeply disappointed" by her choice to override the panel's decision. "The position requires an experienced senior lawyer with extensive executive management experience," Mr McConnel wrote. "Your chosen appointee has none." In the letter, Mr McConnel said the committee had provided Ms Boothby a report outlining its reasons for recommending a different candidate. "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. The panel process is advisory, with directors appointed by the Attorney-General under the Legal Aid Act. In a statement, Ms Boothby told the ABC her decision to appoint Ms Voumard was for "a deliberate change in management approach". "Legal Aid NT has long called for reform and that requires not just funding but strong leadership and fresh thinking in how the organisation is managed," she said. "I am confident Ms Voumard will deliver the changes needed to keep Legal Aid NT sustainable and support its hardworking staff." Ms Voumard comes to the role with 13 years of experience in the legal profession, including several stints in the NT. She has previously worked for LANT and Aboriginal legal services in Darwin, Alice Springs and Port Augusta and as a summary trial prosecutor in remote and regional communities. She also served as an associate to NT Supreme Court Justice Peter Barr and worked for prominent criminal law firm Maleys Barristers & Solicitors, headed up by former Country Liberal Party MLA Peter Maley, who is also the brother of current cabinet minister Gerard Maley. In a statement, NT Bar Association (NTBA) president Mary Chalmers SC said the NTBA understood "a number" of board members had resigned "in response to a 'captain's pick' appointment of the new legal aid director". Ms Chalmers said appointments "made contrary to the advice of a panel" could "damage community and organisational confidence in the appointment process". "Legal Aid is a critical entity for the proper functioning of the justice system in the Northern Territory and the need for transparency in the appointment process is important," she said in a statement. Opposition Leader Selena Uibo labelled Ms Boothby's decision "a clear overstep" and called on her to explain the appointment. "When it comes to the legal profession in the NT, we want to see impartial and independent processes," Ms Uibo said on Tuesday. Ms Voumard has been contacted for comment.
