$300,000 a year for part-time head of tribunal

By AUDREY YOUNG

The part-time chairman of the Human Rights Review Tribunal was paid almost $300,000 in the past year, more than the salary of a Court of Appeal judge or a Cabinet minister.

The tribunal, which recently awarded a prisoner $1200 compensation for hurt feelings, is chaired by Auckland barrister Royden Hindle.

Mr Hindle is paid $200 an hour, Courts Minister Rick Barker told National law and order spokesman Tony Ryall in response to parliamentary questions.

Mr Ryall said it was "an extraordinary amount of money" when compared with the work of a Court of Appeal judge. "It has obviously raised alarm with the Ministry of Justice, who described the arrangement as unsustainable."

Last night, Mr Barker said that would change when the position was established as full-time and its salary set by the Remuneration Authority.

In the year to August 30, Mr Hindle was paid $293,800 in fees and $5273 in travelling allowances and reimbursements.

His hours were equivalent to two-thirds of a full-time position last year, officials told Mr Barker in a Budget paper in March this year. But it said the rate was "not sustainable in the long-term".

When Mr Hindle was appointed, the rate was set at $600 a day.

The paper said a special arrangement had been made with the chairman for a higher rate so he could devote time to the work of the tribunal to clear a case backlog.

The paper proposed that a full-time chairman be appointed on a salary and Mr Barker confirmed that would happen.

He said the rate of $200 an hour was "slightly more than what we would pay a Crown solicitor because this person has to maintain their own chambers, employ staff, computer systems ... The rate reflects more than just a salary."

Salary recommendations in the officials' paper were blacked out but it recommended it be less than that of a District Court judge, who earns $208,300. The salary will be determined by the Remuneration Authority - formerly the Higher Salaries Commission.

Mr Hindle was appointed in May 2002 for a five-year term.

The Human Rights Review Tribunal is not part of the Human Rights Commission. It is an independent entity under the Human Rights Act.

Its role is to arbitrate on disputes between citizens, Government agencies and the Health and Disability Commissioner, the Privacy Commissioner or the Human Rights Commission.

A Court of Appeal judge earns $292,000 and a Cabinet minister earns $195,000.