Chief Justice Alan Blow interrupts proceedings to answer his front door

In these strange and ever-evolving times, even the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Tasmania can be caught out by the distractions of working from home.

NO one is exempt from the distractions of working from home – not even the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Tasmania.

Chief Justice Alan Blow was presiding over a hearing on Wednesday morning via video link to the Hobart court when he had to excuse himself from the proceedings.

“Someone is ringing my doorbell and no one else is answering,” he said as he got up to leave his computer.

Chief Justice Blow apologised on his return a short time later.

“One of the disadvantages of working from home,” he said.

MORE NEWS:

HOUSE DESTROYED BY SECOND FIRE

TASSIE SCHOOLS SEEKING JOBKEEPER SUPPORT

SLIPPERY BRIDGE NOW SORTED

The hearing was between Timber World Pty Ltd and the Meander Valley Council.

In 2018, a Supreme Court judge set aside a decision by the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal about a controversial drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre proposed for the former Meander Primary School.

Justice Michael Brett ordered the application by Christian faith-based organisation Teen Challenge for a women’s and children’s rehabilitation centre be reheard to a differently constituted tribunal.

Timber World Pty Ltd had originally challenged the council’s 2017 approval of the development and has argued the proposal did not comply with bushfire performance criteria.

This ground was dismissed and that decision is now being appealed, with Chief Justice Blow to deliver his decision at a later date.