SPEECH

The Honourable Jarrod Bleijie MP

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
Valedictory Cereony for the Honourable Chief Jud!e
Patsy "olfe A#$ Su%ree Court of &ueensland
'riday$ () #ctober *+(,
-.(/a
Banco Court$ 0e1el 2
&ueen Eli3abeth 44 Courts of 0a5
,(/Geor!e Street$ Brisbane
1
May it please the Court
Chief Judge Patsy Wolfe;
Chief Justice Tim Carmody;
Chief Magistrate Ray Rinaudo;
Your Honours;
Judge Administrator Judge O!rien " to #hom $ offer my
congratulations on your appointment as the ne%t Chief
Judge;
Mr &hane 'oyle( President( !ar Association of
)ueensland;
Mr $an !ro#n( President( )ueensland *a# &ociety;
*adies and +entlemen
2
Todays ceremony mar,s a significant point in )ueenslands
-udicial history
This is only the .
th
time that a Chief Judge( or Chairman( of
the modern 'istrict Court has retired in nearly /0 years
This is a remar,a1le achie2ement " and it attests to the
diligence( perse2erance and professionalism of Chief Judge
Wolfe
$ndeed( it is e2en more remar,a1le to note that Chief Judge
Wolfe has ser2ed a record term of o2er 3/ years in this
important role
Today is a time to reflect upon the achie2ements and
contri1ution of the Chief Judge " and there can 1e no 1etter
measure of her success than the 1enchmar,s she set
herself
$n 400.( upon the s#earing in of Judge 'ur#ard( the Chief
Judge listed the 5ualities re5uired of a -udge appointed to
the 'istrict Court6
7Among the central attri1utes for appointment are a sense
of dedication to the Court and of duty in respect of the
1urdens in ser2ing it6 Highly de2eloped ha1its of
scholarship and industry are important( as is an a1ility to
carry out the 1urdens of office #ith fortitude and patience68
3
$n the past 3/ years the Chief Judge has demonstrated
clearly she possesses these 5ualities
More importantly( ho#e2er( is the use to #hich these
5ualities are put6
$ thin, there #ould 1e fe# #ho #ould dispute the #ords of
one of my predecessors( 'r 'en2er !eanland( #ho( in his
1oo, A Court Apart, #rote9
7The 'istrict Court of today under the leadership of
Chief Judge Wolf is a modern( progressi2e and
professional court #ith a #ide range of specialist
responsi1ilities outside its criminal and ci2il
-urisdictions : the court continues to gain recognition
for its central role as a trial court in the administration
of -ustice throughout the state 1ut particularly in
regional and remote centres6 The 'istrict Court has
sho#n o2er the last decade that it continues to adapt
to the needs and aspirations of contemporary society
as its 1ench successfully performs a gro#ing range of
-udicial functions68
$ endorse these remar,s #ith enthusiasm
$ am also certain that no one here today #ould dou1t in any
#ay Her Honours formida1le s,ills and intellectual rigour6
4
As the )ueensland *a# &ociety -ournal Proctor o1ser2ed
some years ago( the Chief Judge( is the sort of person
who only needs to say things once, because there is no
wriggle room for any ambiguity or equivocation.
More importantly( she has pro2en an outstanding
appointment as Chief Judge( effecti2e and efficient in her
administration of the 'istrict Court; and forensic in her
approach to all things -udicial6
At her s#earing;in( the Chief Judge set clear goals to
impro2e the 'istrict Courts contri1ution to the -ustice
system( including9 1etter communication and outreach to
the pu1lic; more di2ersity; 1etter management and use of
technology; stricter super2ision of case flo#; greater access
to electronic and 2ideo technology; and( a1o2e all( a
stronger commitment to handling cases fairly( s#iftly and
economically6
&ome 3/ years later( Her Honour lea2es the !ench secure
in the ,no#ledge she has deli2ered on those aspirations
#ith interest6
$t is no secret the Chief Judge is immensely proud of the
'istrict Court( her -udicial colleagues and their collecti2e
achie2ements6
5
$t is interesting to reflect that Her Honors o#n success
o#es much to her di2erse e%perience ; as a former
medical student( hard;nosed -ournalist( respected
academic( solicitor( leading 1arrister( pu1lic commissioner
and( perhaps most challenging( #or,ing mother of four6
Her Honors legal career has ta,en many turns
'istinguishing herself as 'eputy Commissioner of the
<it=gerald $n5uiry into Official Corruption( Her Honour then
proceeded to chair a ma-or re2ie# of land policy and
administration in 3>>06
While continuing to practice at the !ar( Her Honour also
ser2ed as a part;time Commissioner on the Human Rights
and ?5ual Opportunity Commission from 3>>@ until her
appointment to the 'istrict Court in 3>>/6
That 1readth and depth of life and legal e%perience
pro2ided a solid -udicial foundation on #hich she continued
to 1uild( #ith tireless enthusiasm and passion for the la#6
These many 5ualities #ere further recognised some four
years later #ith her appointment as Chief Judge in 3>>>6
Her administrati2e and -udicial record spea,s for itself6
6
As Chief Judge( Her Honour has also 1een a fierce
defender of the Courts independence( #ith a lifelong
commitment to social -ustice and professional ethics6
<rom day one( Her Honour has pro2en a fearless and
effecti2e ad2ocate for increased court resourcing6
$ ha2e 1een on the recei2ing end of that ad2ocacy from time
to time6 Conse5uently( $ can ad2ise that $ e%pect to
announce in the near future the appointment of a ne#
'istrict Court -udge to Cairns " and the appointment of an
additional -udge to the Court6
&ince 4034 $ ha2e #or,ed #ith Her Honour in a thoroughly
professional manner6 $ ha2e appreciated her courtesy( her
#ise counsel and her co;operati2e approach6
While #e may ha2e had minor disagreements( these ha2e
1een managed in a mature and reasona1le manner free
from rancour and misunderstanding6
Her 1elief in the importance of the rule of la#( the
independence of the -udiciary and the importance of the
'istrict Court is to 1e commended6 These 2ie#s " firmly
held " ha2e 1een the hallmar, of Her Honours time on the
1ench6
7
There can 1e no greater testimony to the regard in #hich a
society holds an indi2idual than the recognition that society
choses to 1esto# on its distinguished citi=ens6
$n June this year( Her Honor #as made an Officer of the
Order of Australia for her istinguished service to the
!udiciary, to the law through legal education reform and as a
mentor and role model for women.
This prestigious honour #as merely the latest in a long list
of tri1utes and accolades( including a Centenary Medal in
400@ and Honourary 'octorate from +riffith Ani2ersity6
Your Honour( the &tate is in your de1t6
On 1ehalf of the )ueensland +o2ernment( $ than, you for
your distinguished ser2ice to the la#( the 'istrict Court and
the #ider community6
$ also e%tend our 2ery 1est #ishes to you and your family as
you em1ar, on the ne%t stage of your distinguished career6
May it please the Court6
8