Minister Shannon Fentiman’s ‘Aunty Kerry’ promoted to new role

Attorney-General and Justice Minister Shannon Fentiman’s aunty has been promoted to a new judiciary role.

Queensland Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

A close relative of Attorney-General and Justice Minister Shannon Fentiman has been promoted to a new judiciary role.

Kerry Magee has been named one of 15 new specialist Queensland Children’s Court magistrates whose powers were expanded to deal with serious crimes by children under 17 and to make child protection orders. Ms Magee was appointed to her new role by Governor Paul de Jersey on October 8, on Ms Fentiman’s recommendation, according to parliamentary documents. There was no press release announcement.

Ms Fentiman’s office confirmed the minister had sought advice from the state’s Integrity Commissioner, regarding her aunt’s appointment.

The Courier-Mail does not suggest that Ms Magee’s appointment lacked merit.

Despite the new role, the long-time magistrate’s salary will remain the same, at $368,000. But, Ms Magee and other members of the judiciary are overdue for a pay rise when the Remuneration Tribunal, an independent statutory body, makes its next determination.

Ms Magee, the sister of Ms Fentiman’s mother Christine and a former president of the Gold Coast Bar Association, was sworn in as a magistrate in 2009.

Ms Fentiman spoke highly of her mother and her “Aunt Kerry” in her maiden speech in parliament in 2015. She said her mother had “instilled in me a passion for social justice”.

She said, “I also cannot forget my Aunt Kerry, who was one of the first women to become a partner at a large Gold Coast law firm. She was my inspiration to study law. These strong women paved the way for me.”

The appointment of Ms Magee follows at least 17 promotions with links to Labor politicians to high-paying jobs in the judiciary in recent years, despite claims by Labor of a bipartisan selection process.

Ms Fentiman declined an interview request. A spokeswoman for her office said Chief Magistrate Terry Gardiner had initially requested the 15 magistrates be appointed to the Children’s Court.

“Magistrate Kerry Magee was one of the magistrates put forward by the Chief Magistrate,” the spokeswoman said.

She said Ms Fentiman had taken advice from Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov regarding the appointment of Ms Magee.

“The advice was that there were no concerns with this appointment,” she said.