You Be The Judge Win Fair Entitlement

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OFFICIAL EDUCATION PARTNER WIN Become a bargain shopper Job hunter survival guide A VIP HOLIDAY 28-PAGES TO THE JOHNNIE WALKER CLASSIC etc » P33 PLUS 40 PAGES OF JOBS YOU BE THE JUDGE JANUARY 31-February 1, 2009 $2.00 incl GST WEEKEND EDITION couriermail.com.au GOTTA go . . . the magistrate swapped her Bribie Island house, left, for a Caloundra address, and sent the public the bill. Fair entitlement or case of greed? Patrick Lion TAXPAYERS have forked out $32,000 for controversial Magistrate Di Fingleton to move house after she complained about her ‘‘onerous and dangerous’’ work commute along a highway used by thousands of other motorists. The Courier-Mail can reveal Ms Fingleton pocketed the special payment last year to avoid the 60km drive each way, despite previously agreeing to the commute between the Caloundra Courthouse and her former home on Bribie Island. The Bligh Government went into damage control last night, flagging new rules permitting claims only for moves of more than 100km. Ms Fingleton had agreed to the commute with former attorneygeneral Rod Welford in 2005 when she was reappointed and awarded almost $500,000 compensation after being wrongly jailed for threatening a subordinate while chief magistrate. 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BUY PHOTOS To purchase selected pictures from this paper phone 1300 301 705 or go to www.newsphotos.com.au Check out the fantastic new website at couriermail.com.au 2 The Courier-Mail January 31-February 1, 2009 But documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws reveal Ms Fingleton backflipped and asked for $37,374 reimbursement last June after moving from Bribie Island to near Caloundra. In a letter to then chief magistrate Marshall Irwin, Ms Fingleton said she was tired of driving along the Bruce Highway to her $262,000-a-year job as the road was ‘‘busy’’ and had a 110km/h speed limit. ‘‘(It) has become a busy court and some days I am required to work past the usual court hours,’’ she wrote. ‘‘This drive has become both onerous and dangerous and therefore it also became a workplace health and safety issue.’’ Judges receive moving allowances when appointed in different towns but Ms Fingleton was reimbursed under ‘‘special circumstances’’. Her claim included $1815 for removalists, $22,776 for stamp duty, $1432 in fees and $1350 for furniture depreciation. Ms Fingleton also claimed $10,000 for the agent’s commission, above the $5000 limit as she argued the cap only covered a home worth $164,000. ‘‘I doubt there would be a habitable dwelling in the whole SENT state a $37,000 bill . . . magistrate Di Fingleton. of southeast Queensland for sale at that figure!’’ she wrote. Justice Department directorgeneral Julie Grantham approved $32,074, rejecting the extra $5000 commission and $300 conveyancing fee. Ms Fingleton was e-mailed the approval last August. ‘‘That is wonderful news,’’ she wrote in reply. ‘‘Many thanks for your efforts. You have a nice day!’’ Only days later, she lodged a $3.2 million lawsuit against her former legal team from her 2003 wrongful jailing. Ms Fingleton’s new home south of Caloundra is only 10 minutes drive from court. Premier Anna Bligh ordered a review of the claim this week after being alerted to the FOI application. She last night said the claim by Ms Fingleton, a friend, would not be rescinded, despite admitting the move was too short. ‘‘Personally, I think in order to qualify for a transfer for a relocation expense you have to move more than 100km,’’ she said. But Ms Fingleton, who will relocate again in 2011, last week insisted there was nothing wrong with her claim. ‘‘It makes you a lot fresher driving to work,’’ she said. ‘‘I applied. They gave it to me.’’ View the documents online at couriermail.com.au Premier slashes allowance for judges QUEENSLAND’S top bureaucrats, magistrates and judges will have their generous moving entitlements slashed to the same level of ordinary public servants. In a move set to upset the upper echelons of the bureaucracy, Premier Anna Bligh last night revealed department directors-general would be ranked the same as a teacher when they have to move for work. For example, a real estate agent commission claim will total $3300 instead of $5000 currently. Magistrates and other staff whose entitlements are similar to those of chief executive officers will also be included. The move comes after Ms Bligh ordered a review of a $32,000 claim by Caloundra Magistrate Di Fingleton caught in a Courier-Mail Freedom of Information application. Four years after magistracy entitlements were last reviewed, Ms Bligh last night said she unaware CEO claims were ‘‘significantly broader’’ than lower public servants. ‘‘I don’t believe there is any justification for our most highly paid officers to be receiving more financial assistance than normal public servants,’’ she said. Patrick Lion couriermail.com.au FDRP