The Commissioners

National Times
January 11, 2013

http://www.nationaltimes.com.au/opinion/political-news/the-commissioners-20130111-2ckia.html?rand=1357874558207

Justice Peter McClellan AM has most recently been the Chief Judge at Common Law of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. He was appointed to the position in 2005. He has also held judicial and other appointments including Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Chief Judge of the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales, Chairman of the Sydney Water Inquiry and Assistant Commissioner at the Independent Commission Against Corruption. Justice McClellan was admitted to practice law in 1974 and appointed Queen's Counsel in 1985.

Bob Atkinson APM served as the Commissioner of the Queensland Police Service for 12 years from 2000 until his retirement in October 2012. In a 44-year career with the Queensland Police Service, he served throughout Queensland from Goondiwindi to Cairns. He was a detective for about 20 years and acted as the police prosecutor in various Magistrates Courts during this period. Commissioner Atkinson has extensive experience in change management, overseeing reforms after the Fitzgerald inquiry from 1990 and following the Public Sector Management Commission Review and Report Recommendations of the Queensland Police Service in 1993.

Justice Jennifer Coate has most recently been appointed a Judge of the Family Court of Australia. She has held a number of appointments including as Judge of the County Court of Victoria, State Coroner of Victoria, the inaugural President of the Children's Court of Victoria and Senior Magistrate and Magistrate of the Magistrates Court of Victoria. During her time as President of the Children's Court of Victoria, Commissioner Coate oversaw the establishment of the Children's Koori Court. Commissioner Coate also has experience as a part-time Law Reform Commissioner, a solicitor in private practice, a solicitor for the Legal Aid Commission of Victoria and in policy and research for the Victorian Government.

Robert Fitzgerald, AM has served as a Commissioner in the Productivity Commission since 2004. In this capacity he convenes the Indigenous Disadvantage Working Group, which contributes to the biennial report on Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage. Prior to his appointment to the Productivity Commission, Commissioner Fitzgerald was the Community and Disability Services Commissioner and Deputy Ombudsman in New South Wales. He has a diverse background and extensive experience in commerce, law, public policy and community services, including extensive involvement in numerous not-for-profit agencies.

Professor Helen Milroy is a descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. She is a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Winthrop Professor and Director for the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health at the University of Western Australia. Commissioner Milroy has been on state and national mental health advisory committees and boards with a particular focus on the wellbeing of children.

Andrew Murray is a Rhodes Scholar and former businessman who was a Senator for Western Australia from 1996 to 2008. Commissioner Murray is an advocate on issues surrounding institutionalised children and is currently a Patron of the Care Leavers Association of Australia and the Alliance for Forgotten Australians. His senate career focused on a variety of finance, economics and business issues; on accountability, governance and electoral reform; and on institutionalised children. His earlier business background includes roles as an executive and director in public and private corporations as well as owning and managing his own businesses. He has also chaired and been a member of a variety of community, business and political boards, committees and associations.