Robert Cornall
Order 111th Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department
Term start 124 January 2000
Term end 131 August 2008
Predecessor 1Tony Blunn
Successor 1Roger Wilkins
Birth nameRobert John Cornall
Birth placeMelbourne
OccupationPublic servant
Alma materUniversity of Melbourne

Robert John Cornall is a retired Australian senior public servant, he was head of the Attorney-General's Department between 2000 and 2008.

Early life

Robert Cornall was born in Melbourne.[1] He attended Wesley College, then studied for a Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of Melbourne, graduating in 1968.[2]

Public service career

In January 1968, Cornall took up a position in the lawfirm Oswald Burt & Co (later Middeltons Oswald Burt, Solicitors).[2] He was promoted to Partner of the firm in July 1972.[2]

Cornall left Middeltons Oswald Burt, Solicitors in 1987 and moved to a position as Executive Director and Secretary of the not-for-profit member-based Law Institute of Victoria.[2][3]

Between December 1995 and December 1999, Cornall was the Managing Director of Victoria Legal Aid.[4]

Cornall was appointed Secretary of the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department in 2000.[5] In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the Attorney-General's Department was responsible for implementing the Howard government's national security agenda.[6] The department grew rapidly in numbers under Cornall's leadership, from 550 staff to over 1500.[6]

Cornall retired from the Attorney-General's Department in July 2008.[7]

On 30 July 2017 he became Acting President of the Australian Law Reform Commission.[8]

Public profile and enquiries

As Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department he commented on the alleged torture of Mamdouh Habib.[9] He stated there was no substance to the allegations; however, the Australian Government later settled with Habib out of court.[10]

After his retirement Cornall conducted an investigation for the Australian Government into allegations of sexual abuse at Manus Island.[11]

He carried out a review of conflict of interest of members of Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority regarding dumping in the Park.[12][13]

In February 2014 he was appointed to conduct "a review into the circumstances surrounding the Manus Island disturbances", in which an Iranian detainee (Reza Berati) was killed,[14] with the primary focus on management of security at the centre.[15][16][17]

Awards

In 2006, Cornall was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for service to the community through contributions to the development of public policy, particularly counter-terrorism arrangements in a changing global security environment and through providing advice and governance across a diverse range of responsibilities within the civil justice system.[4]

Notes

  1. ^ Cornall 2012, p. 73.
  2. ^ "Curriculum Vitae: Robert Cornall AO", archived 1 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Malone 2006, p. 110.
  4. ^ "Biographical Details - Robert Cornall AO", Attorney-General's Department, December 2006, archived from the original on 2 November 2007
  5. ^ Howard, John (24 January 2000). "New Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department". Archived 1 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ^ Berkovic, Nicola (8 August 2008). "Howard defender Cornall steps down from top post". The Australian
  7. ^ Rudd, Kevin (31 July 2008). "Appointment of Departmental Secretary". Archived 10 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ^ "Mr Robert Cornall AO, Acting President". Australian Law Reform Commission. 31 July 2017. Archived from the original on 9 August 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  9. ^ "Dept backs Ruddock's denials of Habib torture claims". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 February 2005. Archived 28 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
  10. ^ Neighbour, Sally (15 January 2011). "Mamdouh Habib's story is backed by evidence". The Australian
  11. ^ Farrell, Paul & Laughland, Oliver (1 November 2013). "Sex assaults at Manus Island centre appear likely to go unpunished". The Guardian. Archived 21 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ^ Hunt, Greg (24 February 2014). "Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority conflict of interest inquiry". Archived 28 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
  13. ^ Milman, Oliver (24 February 2014). "Great Barrier Reef authority board members cleared of improper conduct". The Guardian. Archived 28 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
  14. ^ Farrell, Paul (21 February 2014). "Manus Island inquiry will be led by Robert Cornall, says Scott Morrison". The Guardian. Archived 28 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
  15. ^ "Terms of Reference Review into the events of 16-18 February 2014 at the Manus Regional Processing Centre". Canberra: Department Immigration and Border Protection. 27 February 2014. Archived 28 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
  16. ^ Farrell, Paul (27 February 2014). "Consultant investigating Manus Island unrest insists he is independent". The Guardian. Archived 28 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
  17. ^ Cornell, Robert (23 May 2014). "Review into the Events of 16 - 18 February 2014 at the Manus Regional Processing Centre" (PDF-6 MB). Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Retrieved 26 May 2014.

References and further reading