Virginia Bell flagged to lead probe, faces criticism from Jewish leaders
Bell, who was appointed Companion of the Order of Australia in 2012, has had a long and respected career in law. The 74-year-old began his career at Redfern Law Center in the 1970s, became a public defender and was appointed a judge of the NSW Supreme Court and Court of Appeal in March 1999.
When she was appointed by the Rudd government in 2009, she became the fourth woman to serve on the Supreme Court bench. He retired after 12 years.
He also has experience of working on a royal commission, having served as one of the advisors assisting the Wood Royal Commission into NSW police corruption between 1994 and 1997.
In August 2022, Labor appointed Bell to lead the investigation into former prime minister Scott Morrison’s scandalous appointments to several ministerial posts.
Bell’s critics in the Jewish community see him as too close to Labor and, while they agree he is an outstanding figure, they question his stance on the complex issues the commission must investigate. Bell declined to comment when asked about this argument against his appointment.
In the early 1990s, Bell had a brief stint as host of the ABC program. Late Night Live.
In a profile published by this imprint at the time of his appointment to the Supreme Court, Professor George Williams argued that he was “one of the most experienced and respected criminal lawyers” and said it was appropriate for him to be interested in social justice, given that he was replacing Justice Michael Kirby, who was known for his interest in human rights.
A profile of Bell at the University of Wollongong said Bell represented dozens of people arrested at the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 1978 and produced a video for the following year’s parade advising people how to avoid arrest.
This imprint reported on Thursday that Labor could include the proposed Richardson review into intelligence failures at the royal commission and merge with the NSW royal commission.
The Prime Ministry was contacted for comment.
