The Commissioner

Ms Catherine Holmes AC SC

Catherine Holmes AC SC was appointed Chief Justice of Queensland in 2015 and retired in March 2022. She had previously served as a judge of the Court of Appeal (2006 – 2015) and of the Trial Division (2000 – 2006) of the Supreme Court of Queensland. From 2011 to 2012, Ms Holmes was Commissioner of the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry.

Commissioner Holmes is a graduate of the University of Queensland and the Australian National University, with undergraduate degrees in Law, Arts (Hons) and Economics and a Master's degree in Law. She was admitted as a solicitor in 1982 and as a barrister in 1984. In 1999 she was appointed Senior Counsel.

Ms Holmes was a founding member of the Women's Legal Service (from 1984) and was a member of the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Tribunal (1992 – 2000). From 1998 to 1999 she served as Counsel Assisting the Commission of Inquiry into Abuse of Children in Queensland Institutions.

In January 2020, Ms Holmes was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia for 'eminent service to the judiciary, notably to criminal, administrative and mental health law, and to the community of Queensland'.

Commissioner Holmes does not have any conflict of interest (actual or perceived) that might have an impact on the conduct of this inquiry. However, like many Australians, she does have family members who have received allowance payments and who may engage with Centrelink from time to time regarding those payments. None of these payments has had any relationship to the Robodebt Scheme.