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QUEENSLAND'S Chief Justice Tim Carmody is set to resign following ongoing tensions with senior members of the judiciary.
In a statement released this morning, Carmody says he is willing to leave the office of Chief Justice if it is in the overall best interests of Queenslander and "if the net gain of leaving exceeds that of staying".
A condition of Carmody's resignation would be that the government undertake a reform agenda including a judicial commission.
"Those resistant to change and modernisation have made it their primary goal to force me out, seemingly at all costs," says Carmody.
"I am willing to resign on just terms, not for them, not because of them, but to break the impasse we now find ourselves at.
"With this gesture, I aim to bring to the judiciary, all sides of politics and appropriate legal and community leaders together to negotiate a solution for the leadership of the courts and to build shared commitment and a clear framework for meaningful reform.
"My giving up the role won't solve these problems. I offer it in the hope to refocus the conversation on the real issues. I am willing to do so only on just terms and if I am confident action will be taken towards the improvements Queenslanders need and expect."
Over the next week, Carmody has called for a round table meeting to discuss reform and will present his vision for change on Friday.
"I deeply hope that this vision will be accompanied by a mandated, bipartisan, action plan worth of the civil society our hard working courts strive to support every day," says Carmody.
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