Carmody talks ongoing: Qld govt

The Queensland government denies talks between embattled Chief Justice Tim Carmody and Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath about his resignation have stalled.

Queensland chief justice Tim Carmody

Queensland's premier insists talks with embattled chief justice Tim Carmody (pic) are ongoing. (AAP)

The Queensland government insists talks between embattled Chief Justice Tim Carmody and Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath are continuing despite reports he is reconsidering his intention to resign.

Ms D'Ath first met Justice Carmody on May 28 - the same week he publicly revealed he would be prepared to quit to end months of judicial infighting - and described the talk as "constructive".

The chief justice, who last week extended his sick leave for a bad back, has weathered criticism for attaching conditions to his resignation, including that his departure be on "just terms" and be followed by a judicial review.

The government has said it was not up to Mr Carmody to dictate policy from the bench, and critics have expressed concern that he is breaching the separation of powers principle.

"There are ongoing discussions with the attorney-general," Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told reporters during a trade mission in Philadelphia on Monday morning (AEST).

Former Queensland District Court judge Brian Boulton believed a small group of bitter judges was behind a concerted push to end Mr Carmody's tenure, according to News Corp Australia.

A "largely silent majority" of the judiciary wanted him to stay on, The Courier-Mail reported.

Three weeks after the chief justice's public comments about resigning, Ms Palaszczuk again called for a resolution.

"I would say that Queenslanders interpreted his statement as signalling an intention to resign," she said. Last Thursday, after Ms Palaszczuk said discussions between Justice Carmody and Ms D'Ath were continuing, a spokesman for the attorney-general told AAP he was not aware of any further meetings since May 28.

But on Sunday, Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said Justice Carmody had been engaging in conversations about his "express desire to resign".

Ms D'Ath's spokesman on Monday denied talks had stalled but couldn't give details about what contact had taken place.

"I can simply say that the discussions between them are still going on," he said.


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Source: AAP


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