NT: Chief Magistrate's appointment valid

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2001
NT: Chief Magistrate's appointment valid

DARWIN, Dec 7 AAP - The Federal Court has found that Northern Territory Chief Magistrate
Hugh Bradley's appointment almost four years ago was valid.

Mr Bradley was appointed on a lucrative two-year basis in February 1998 by the then
chief minister Shane Stone, now Liberal Party federal president.

Justice Mark Weinberg today dismissed a challenge by the North Australian Aboriginal
Legal Aid Service to the validity of the appointment.

NAALAS had failed to prove the government had appointed Mr Bradley for an improper purpose.

"The inference of improper purpose was open on the primary facts," Justice Weinberg said.

AAP rmg/ldj/de

KEYWORD: MAGISTRATE RULING

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