Earlier this week, the Tasmanian Government announced its intention to introduce a Bill to establish a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry to provide advice to the Parliament regarding Justice Geason’s fitness to remain a judge.
Justice Geason is currently on voluntary leave and cannot be suspended or removed from office without the agreement of both Houses of Parliament.
The draft Supreme Court (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry) Bill 2023 was provided to Members of Parliament, and publicly released for consultation.
Following consultation, the Attorney General has agreed to instead move a motion in both Houses of Parliament on 12 December 2023 calling on her Excellency the Governor to suspend Justice Gregory Geason under the Supreme Court (Judges' Independence) Act 1857.
The Attorney General said that in light of the seriousness of the charges that Justice Geason is currently facing, it is appropriate that the judge be suspended.
The Government will continue to develop a Bill to ensure that a mechanism to assist Parliament and the Governor to consider the serious matter of the fitness for office of a Judge of the Supreme Court can be brought before Parliament at an appropriate time in the future.
The Attorney General thanks Members for the co-operative and non-partisan way in which they have engaged in this process.