Former ACT Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay has been hired to work in Chief Minister Andrew Barr's office, just four months after he left office.
The government has confirmed Mr Ramsay has been engaged on a temporary contract to help with a review of the territory's anti-discrimination laws and human rights compatibility processes.
A government spokeswoman would not provide the value of Mr Ramsay's contract, saying the ACT Executive - which covers ministerial offices - did not disclose staff salaries.
She confirmed Mr Ramsay had been hand-picked for the job as a result of his "wealth of experience and knowledge to this task, as well as strong relationships with a wide range of affected stakeholders". She said Mr Ramsay was hired as a temporary staff member, not as a public servant.
The appointment comes just four months after Mr Ramsay was dumped from the ACT Legislative Assembly, losing his seat in the Belconnen-based electorate of Ginninderra by just 160 votes.
Asked to explain Mr Ramsay's new role at an estimates hearings on Friday morning, ACT Human Rights Minister Tara Cheyne said her former colleague would assist with "preliminary stakeholder engagement" ahead of the review.
Mr Ramsay's findings would help inform a discussion paper to be released as part of the review process, Ms Cheyne said.
A former church minister, Mr Ramsay was highly respected inside the Barr government during his first and only term in parliament.
Mr Barr handed Mr Ramsay's the Attorney-General role immediately after his election in 2016. He also held the business and regulatory services, arts, building quality, seniors and veterans affairs' portfolios.
