11. KATE WILKINSON (National) Link to this
to the Minister for Courts
Does he have confidence that the current court system is delivering speedy and inexpensive access to justice; if so, why?
Hon RICK BARKER (Minister for Courts) Link to this
As I advised the member on 29 June in response to exactly the same question, yes; however, things can always be improved over time. It is fair to say that the gross under-investment in the justice sector through the 1990s under a National Government led to a necessary review of baseline funding. As a result a massive injection of $156 million was made by this Labour-led Government into both the courts and justice, as well as a broad programme of review and service improvement that we are continuing to roll out.
How can he justify his answer in the House on 29 June 2006 that “the court system has been steadily improving over the last 6 years of a Labour-led Government” when median waiting lists for a hearing date in the last 2 years in district courts have ballooned from 161 days to 372 days in Blenheim, from 198 days to 351 days in Nelson, from 187 days to 279 days in Wanganui, from 199 days to 343 in Greymouth; how does that rate as an improvement?
The criminal summary cases around New Zealand from November 2003 to 2006 have reduced by an average of 20 percent overall. Yes, it is expected that from time to time some court caseloads will go up, and others will go down. The court itself has no control over the rate at which prosecuting authorities file notices. The increase in court caseloads should be applauded by the Opposition, because it is another indicator of how this Government is getting tough on crime and is resolving crime and bringing the criminals to court.
Jill PettisThis Government is doing heaps. In just over a year we have seen the implementation of a 3-year service improvement programme, which includes court assessment and practice improvement, the introduction of a queue reduction strategy, training and development for District Court staff, and extending digital audio technology to 44 courts. I could go on. The point I am making is there has been a 20 percent reduction in court caseloads in the summary jurisdiction. That is simply one example.
Peter BrownI cannot give that figure off the top of my head, but I will get it for the member and reply to him direct.
Judy TurnerIs the Minister concerned about the increasing number of dissatisfied fathers who have set up a campaign against the Family Court; if so, what work is his department doing currently to address those concerns?
A great deal has been done to improve the quality and performance of the Family Court. The Government has invested in mediation programmes, and will continue to do more in that area. It has invested in education programmes for parents who have recently split up. But, unfortunately, we are not going to be able to resolve all issues in the Family Court to the satisfaction of each particular party.
How can he justify his answer in the House on 29 June 2006: “This Government is getting on and addressing the challenges.”, when in the last 3 years the median waiting-time for High Court jury trials has ballooned from 133 days to 222 days in Auckland, from 143 days to 203 days in Christchurch, and from 169 days to 263 days in Wellington; how does this show that the challenges are being addressed or that the queue reduction strategy is working?
It is very easy to go and find a court here and a court there that has an increase in its queue. But let us examine the facts. This Government has increased the number of High Court judges by 10 percent. In 2000 we had 30 High Court judges; we now have 33. We have made a substantial investment in that area, and it is an issue that the Government is addressing. We are putting more resources into it and we are clearing cases more quickly.
Christopher Finlayson Link to this
Can the Minister please explain why outstanding High Court criminal jury trials have escalated in the last 4 years from nine to 26 in Wellington, and from six to 31 in Whangarei—an increase of 380 percent in those two High Court registries alone; how does that rate as an improvement or evidence that the “Government is doing heaps.”?
The judiciary has now formed a national court roster, with the very purpose of reducing the backlog in some particular courts. If the member goes to the answer I gave, he will see that in a number of other High Courts around the country there has been a reduction in cases and waiting times. One has to expect the system will have ebbs and flows, ups and downs. We just have to manage them.
Christopher Finlayson Link to this
How can the Minister blame the workload of congested courts on the reclassification of methamphetamine P, when the Government did not even bother to consult the Ministry of Justice before it agreed on changes to the law, and, indeed, was warned as early as 2003 by both the Ministry of Justice and the Chief Justice that P cases would put additional pressure on the High Court’s workload?
The member opposite sheds crocodile tears about the issue of the dangers of P. The Government wanted to send a very clear message to people who were selling P that this was a serious crime, and we judged that should be put in the High Court. That is the issue. If that member thinks that P is OK to distribute and should be a matter for an infringement notice, then so be it if that is the National Party’s policy.
Christopher Finlayson Link to this
When the Minister said the “Government is doing heaps.”, does that also include improving the recording equipment in the courts in order to enable trials to be conducted more expeditiously; if so, what is being done there?