procedures, and to coordinate continuing judicial education.(205)

The 1985 legislature changed the assembly's name to the Judicial Conference.(206) However, the legislature did not adequately fund the activities of the Judicial Council for its first half a century until Chief Justice Erickstad persuaded legislators to do so beginning in 1975.(207) By then, the Judicial Council had become instrumental in improving the judicial system.

207. In his 1975 State of the Judiciary message to a joint session of the legislature, Chief Justice Erickstad repeatedly referred to the need for funds to continue studies begun with funding from other sources, like the State Emergency Commission, the Combined Law Enforcement Council, State Highway Department, and Law Enforcement Assistance Administration. See State of North Dakota, Journal of the House 58-65 (44th Leg. 1975).Federal Nationals MPs are urging their party to back an Australia-wide rollout of cashless debit cards for welfare recipients under 35 and an inquiry into the adequacy of welfare payments.

The Nationals' Federal Council will hold its annual meeting on the weekend to consider a number of policy positions. While the 21-member federal party room has stopped short of calling for an increase to Newstart, it is sponsoring two significant motions on welfare reform for the party's broader approval.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and his Nationals colleagues want to see Prime Minister Scott Morrison's government roll out the cashless welfare card. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

One motion asks The Nationals' governing body to call on the Morrison government to expand the cashless debit card nationally for under-35s who receive the dole and