FOR RELEASE NOT BEFORE 8.45 P. M. 29TH SEPTEMBER, 196o.
FOR PRESS P. Mo/ 37
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINTSTERRT. HON. R. G. 14ENZIES
SALARIES OF FEDERAL JUDGES
The Prime Minister ( Mr. Menzies) said before leaving Canberra
today that the Government would introduce bills during the present
sittings of Parliament to increase the salaries of the judges of the
High Court and of the Federal Courts created by the Australian
Parliament. Explaining the decision the Prime Minister said that the
salaries of the Commonwealth judges had not been altered since 1955
although since that time the salaries of other public offices for
which the Commonwealth was responsible had been increased more than
once. The salaries paid to State judges in New South Wales and
Victoria have been increased several times since 1955, and the
remuneration, including allowances, of these judges is now in every
case but one, in excess of the salaries paid to the Commonwealth
judiciary.. For these reasons the Commonwealth Parliament will be
asked to establish proper levels of remuneration for its judges,
In' New South Wales the increases made, subsequently to the
Judges' Remuneration Act 1955 ( Commonwealth) were
Chief Justice
195 œ 5575 plus œ 350 allowance
1957 5850
1959 6200
1960 6900
Puisne Judges, Supreme Court
1955 œ 4725 plus œ 250 allowance
1957 5000 " 1
1959 5500
1960 6250
2
Industrial Com-mission
1955 œ+ 725 plus œ 250 allowance
1957 5000 I
1959 5500
1960 6250
and in Victoria Chief Justice
1956 œ 5750 plus œ 500 allowance
1958 600 1
1960 6750
Puisne Judges. Sunrem Court
196 O150p lus œ 30 allowance
1958 40
1960 61-0
The allowances do not bear tax to the extent that expenditure
incurred against them is deductible,
By way of comparison the present salaries of the Judges of the
High Court are for the Chief Justice œ 8,000 and for the other Justices
œ 6,500. For the Chief Judge of the Commonwealth Industrial Court
and the President of the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration
Commission the salary is œ 6500; and for the puisne Judges of the
Commonwealth Industrial Court the Federal Judge in Bankruptcy and the
Deputy Presidents of the Conciliation and Arbitration Commission
œ; 5,500. The proposed now salaries for the Judges of the High and
Federal Courts will include œ 10,000 for the Chief Justice of Australia
and œ 8,500 for the other Justices of the High Court. The Chief
Judge of the Commonwealth Industrial Court and the President of the
Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission will receive
œ 8,000. The puisne judges of the Commonwealth Industrial Court,
the Federal Judge in Bankruptcy and the Deputy Presidents of the
Conciliation and Arbitration Commission will receive œ 7,000. ./ 3
-3-
These figures represent an increase of œ C2,000 ( gross) on
present figures in the case of the High Court, and an increase
of fœ 1500 ( gross) for the other judges.
The Hligh Court is established by the Constitution. It
is the suprem~ e court of the Co-mmonwecalth and the ultimate
court of appeal in Australia; the new salaries are designed
to reflect its special status and responsibilities.
The Prime Minister said that these were the main changes.
There were special considerations applicable to the Supreme
Courts of the mainland Territories; the salaries of the
judges of the Territory Courts would be deter." Aned later.
CA NBERRA
29th September, 1960.