Thursday, December 13, 2012

Unseemly

Last month, the government finally passed legislation restoring the outdated title of "Queen's Council" to the legal profession. The first person it rewards with this title? Their own Attorney-General, Chris Finlayson.

While Finlayson is a long-standing lawyer, its more than a little unseemly. In the status-conscious world of the law, this title is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Putting your Ministers first in line to receive such a gift makes it look like you are abusing your public office to reward your mates - and that such appointments are going to be made on cronyism, not merit.