Attorney-General Vickie Chapman said Steph Halliday would begin in the role on March 1, taking over from the current Acting Commissioner Emily Strickland.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ms Strickland for her work – especially on the review into the workplace culture and mechanisms for reporting harassment in Parliament House,” Attorney-General Chapman said.

“This has been important work and is greatly appreciated. The Ombudsman has been very accommodating while Ms Strickland has acted in the role over the past five months, but she is now needed in her current substantive role as Deputy Ombudsman.

“I’m advised Ms Strickland’s work on this review will be completed prior to her return to the Ombudsman’s office on March 1.”

Attorney-General Chapman said she has every confidence Ms Halliday would do an excellent job maintaining the work of the office, while a longer-term appointment was finalised.

“Ms Halliday has worked as a senior solicitor in both the Crown Solicitor’s Office and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions,” Attorney-General Chapman said.

“She’s undertaken acting management roles, including overseeing the workload of groups of solicitors,” she said.

“She is more than capable of ensuring the good work of the Commission continues, and is expertly placed to advance the Independent Review of Harassment in the Legal Profession.”