Ms O’CONNOR – Thank you, Minister. One group of people who are particularly disadvantaged by a slow and cumbersome Supreme Court system is victim survivors and their families. Do you agree there is a need for urgency here in terms of making sure that our justice system is simpler, cheaper, fairer, trauma-informed?
Mr BARNETT – Yes, thank you very much. I would agree that at all times we should be focusing on a more efficient and effective and timely justice system to address the needs, obviously, for all Tasmanians, including our victim survivors, and we take that very seriously with out response to the commission of inquiry report and recommendations and a commitment to the 191 recommendations.
I think I shared in my opening remarks the importance of the legislative reforms in terms of improving case management. I see that as important to get ahead of the game, to deal with some of the concerns before it actually gets into the court process, so that you have pre‑case mediation opportunities and to avoid those, you know, what could be described as an untimely consideration of these matters.
Ms O’CONNOR – Thank you, minister. I mean, in one instance I know of a victim survivor who is still waiting five or six years after charges were laid against her abuser. I acknowledge that you understand the extent of the problem. Your government is in the process now of recruiting for a new Chief Justice. This new Chief Justice will have to deal with this cumbersome Supreme Court system that is not fit for purpose. Did you want to update the Committee on your recruitment process for a new Chief Justice?
Mr BARNETT – Yes, I can do that, and thank you very much. Expressions of interest were made available I think some months ago, or a little bit less, and likewise recruitment entity to identify possible Chief Justice and/or puisne judge. We are going through that process: we have identified a panel, and the panel has been established under the leadership of my Acting Secretary.
Obviously that process is progressing in the usual way, and I am very pleased with the level of interest that has been demonstrated and expressed, and the Acting Secretary perhaps can add to that, but it is progressing positively in an appropriate way. Obviously the Chief Justice, if I can pay a tribute to Alan Blow.
CHAIR – I was going to do that, but you’ve beat me to it.
Mr BARNETT – Well, thank you very much.
CHAIR – If you do yours first?
Mr BARNETT – Well, I have done this publicly and privately with Chief Justice Alan Blow, who has taken a very strong leadership role and has demonstrated his incredible acumen as a jurist and for and on behalf of the Supreme Court and Tasmanian justice system. I recently hosted the High Court judges and they were very complimentary as well of Justice Alan Blow. So, we had the High Court Chief Justice Stephen Gageler who was here.
He spoke in the Parliament and it was a real honour to host them. Because it has been since, I think, 2016 since they have been in Tasmania. So, it is 200 years of the Supreme Court this year, and it is absolutely a wonderful testament of the separation of powers, which I am very strong on, a strong independent justice system, and I think people that know me know that to be true, and we need to preserve, protect and promote the benefits of our justice system and this is obviously another opportunity to do that through the appointment process. As I alluded to, in answer to the honourable member, working through the justice forum to address the challenges and opportunities that we have in Tasmania to take on further reform, to make further improvements to our justice system.
Ms O’CONNOR – Just I need timeframe, if you don’t mind, Chair, on when the Chief Justice is expected to be in place, and you have some very reassuring noises about reform of the Supreme Court. Do you foresee yourself sitting down when the Chief Justice is in place and talking about court reform?
Mr BARNETT – It’s an agenda item for me every day of the week with my department. There’re the key stakeholders, obviously I work positively and collaboratively with both the Supreme Court and the Magistrates’ Courts and I hope that is recognised. I see that as very important. I take it very seriously. In terms of the timeframe, if I can just draw to your attention that the Chief Justice is due to retire –
CHAIR – Retire in December.
Mr BARNETT – In December, early December, so we are on track to certainly ensure that there is leadership of the Court going forward, noting early December when the Chief Justice steps down, for which we will all be very grateful and I will have more to say at the time. But it is important that we have an ongoing leadership position in place going forward. Of course, Christmas time is a bit of a lull for the justice system, the Supreme Court and the Magistrates’ Court, but we will be making further announcements in due course once we go through an appropriate process.
