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Cabinet has agreed to establish an expert forum to consider the effectiveness of further restrictions on advertising and sponsorship to reduce alcohol-related harm, Justice Minister Simon Power announced today.

The announcement comes at the same time as the Justice and Electoral Committee reports the Alcohol Reform Bill back to Parliament.

The Government welcomes the Justice and Electoral Committee’s report on the Alcohol Reform Bill, Justice Minister Simon Power said today.

“The Government always said the Alcohol Reform Bill was Parliament’s starting point for alcohol law reform and that we’d listen carefully to what people said during select committee consideration of the bill,” Mr Power said.

Justice Minister Simon Power today released figures showing 2,091 grants and services for victims of serious crime and their families were paid out in the first year of the $50 Offender Levy.

Since July last year, the levy has been imposed on all convicted offenders at the time of sentencing, regardless of the crime they commit. The levy is collected after reparation but before fines, and is in addition to any sentence or court order.

Justice Minister Simon Power today announced the appointment of retired district court judge Bernard Kendall as the first legal aid Review Authority.

The Review Authority was established under the Legal Services Act 2011 to review decisions made by the Secretary for Justice in regard to lawyers’ applications to become or remain a legal aid lawyer.

“Judge Kendall’s extensive judicial experience will be a valuable asset to this role,” Mr Power said.

The Government today announced its plan for a multi-agency offensive on organised crime.

Strengthening New Zealand’s Resistance to Organised Crime, an All-of-Government Response, outlines a plan to disrupt criminal networks.

More than 5,000 Police Safety Orders (PSOs) were issued in the first year of their existence, Justice Minister Simon Power and Police Minister Judith Collins said today.

The orders, which came into effect on 1 July last year, allow Police to remove an alleged violent person from the home for a period of up to five days.

Police can use the new tool in situations where there is insufficient evidence to arrest but where they believe there is a likelihood of violence occurring.

Figures released for the year to July show:

Justice Minister Simon Power today welcomed the unanimous report of the Social Services Select Committee in support of a bill to protect vulnerable children from abuse and neglect.

The Crimes Amendment Bill (No 2) was reported back to Parliament today with only minor technical amendments, after the committee considered 39 written and 10 oral submissions.

The bill:

Justice Minister Simon Power is encouraging the public to have their say on a bill which is designed to get the legal aid growth curve under control while ensuring access to justice.

The Legal Assistance (Sustainability) Amendment Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today and has been sent to the Justice and Electoral Select Committee for public submissions.

A bill that improves the sharing of personal information between agencies was introduced to Parliament today by Justice Minister Simon Power.

The Privacy (Information Sharing) Bill responds to the Law Commission’s review of the Privacy Act in regards to information sharing.

Mr Power said the bill aims to improve the rules around the collection, storage, and use of person information while ensuring there are safeguards in place to protect an individual’s right to privacy.

The bill:

Photographs and drawings will be allowed to be submitted in Victim Impact Statements as part of an overhaul of victims rights, Justice Minister Simon Power announced today.

The provision is included in the wide-ranging Victims of Crime Reform Bill which was introduced to Parliament today.

On Victim Impact Statements, the bill:

Associate Minister of Justice Nathan Guy is urging workers in the security industry to apply for a license or certificate of approval by the end of August.

“New legislation means that crowd controllers and personal guards are required to hold a licence or certificate of approval by 1 November 2011. This includes bouncers and door staff working at bars, who will be regulated for the first time,” says Mr Guy.

Justice Minister Simon Power today welcomed Parliament’s unanimous passing of a law to protect child victims of family violence.

The Child and Family Protection Bill (which was split into three bills for third reading) focuses on keeping children safe where there have been instances of family violence in the home, and improves the responsiveness of the Family Court to those victims.

“Children are our most vulnerable members of society and deserve special protection,” Mr Power said

The Child and Family Protection Bill:

Justice Minister Simon Power today welcomed the completion of the Government’s reform of the electoral system, after Parliament voted unanimously to pass the Electoral (Administration) Amendment Bill (No 2).

“I’m pleased that the Government’s electoral law reform programme, including the rewrite of controversial electoral finance laws, has attracted the wide support of Parliament,” Mr Power said.

“Such cross-party support will help to ensure New Zealand’s electoral laws are enduring.”

District Court Judge Paul Barber has been appointed chairperson of the Real Estate Agents Disciplinary Tribunal, Associate Justice Minister Nathan Guy has announced today.

The Disciplinary Tribunal was established under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008, and deals with the licensing and discipline of real estate agents.

A bill which tackles unaffordable growth in legal aid while ensuring access to justice was introduced to Parliament today by Justice Minister Simon Power.

Mr Power said the current legal aid system is unsustainable, with expenditure rising from $111 million in 2006/07 to $172 million in 2009/10 – an increase of 55 per cent.

“Officials had forecast that if we didn’t take action this growth would result in a $402 million gap in legal aid funding over five years,” Mr Power said.

Justice Minister Simon Power today announced the appointment of Rodger Haines, QC, as chair of the Human Rights Review Tribunal.

The tribunal reviews proceedings after complaints have been dealt with by the Human Rights Commission, the Privacy Commissioner, or the Health and Disability Commissioner.

“Mr Haines brings a wealth of experience in administrative law and a strong human rights background to the tribunal,” Mr Power said.

He replaces Royden Hindle who did not seek reappointment after completing nearly 10 years as chair.

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson, Justice Minister Simon Power and Courts Minister Georgina Te Heuheu have all expressed their shock and sorrow at the death of Chief Judge Russell Johnson, who led the District Court for the last six years.

The $50 Offender Levy has been almost twice as successful as the Government’s most optimistic estimates.

Justice Minister Simon Power today announced that the levy collected $3.7 million in its first year, nearly double its forecast of $2 million.

Since July last year, all convicted offenders have been required to pay the levy at the time of sentencing, regardless of the crime they commit. The levy is collected after reparation and before fines, and is in addition to any sentence or court order.

Justice Minister Simon Power is in Australia today to attend the final meeting of the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG) in Adelaide.

SCAG is comprised of the Attorneys-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, its states and territories, and New Zealand's Minister of Justice. Norfolk Island has observer status.

“The final meeting will address a number of challenging contemporary justice issues, including cyber crime, social media and privacy, and match-fixing in sport,” Mr Power said.

Justice Minister Simon Power today welcomed the Justice and Electoral Select Committee’s recommended amendments to the Criminal Procedure (Reform and Modernisation) Bill.

The bill contains the most significant reforms of criminal procedure in 50 years.

“The majority of the submitters supported the bill’s overall aims of modernising and speeding up the criminal justice system, while ensuring a defendant's right to a fair trial,” Mr Power said.

Justice Minister Simon Power today welcomed the publication of national guidelines for government agencies, and a new information leaflet for families supporting child witnesses through the criminal justice system.

The guidelines have been developed by the Ministry of Justice, Police, Child, Youth and Family, and Crown Law in response to a report by Auckland University of Technology’s Institute of Public Policy.

The report identified a need for greater consistency between government agencies on how child witnesses are supported through the criminal justice system.

Justice Minister Simon Power today welcomed the Law and Order Select Committee’s report on a bill which focuses on tightening juror privacy, safety, and security.

The Juries (Jury Service and Protection of Particulars of Jury List Information) Amendment Bill increases security for potential jurors by removing their addresses from jury panel lists and preventing the accused from ever having access to it.

It comes after a self-represented litigant corresponded with people whose names and addresses were on the jury panel list for his trial.

Justice Minister Simon Power leaves today for the triennial meeting of Commonwealth Law Ministers in Sydney.

The meeting is being hosted by Australian Attorney-General Robert McClelland and is expected to be attended by representatives of more than 50 Commonwealth countries.

“I’m looking forward to discussing a range of issues with my Commonwealth counterparts, including crime prevention, access to justice, and measures to enhance democracy,” Mr Power said.

A bill which makes offending against Police and Corrections officers an aggravating factor at sentencing has been welcomed back from select committee by Justice Minister Simon Power and Police and Corrections Minister Judith Collins.

Mr Power said the Sentencing (Aggravating Factors) Amendment Bill reflected the Government's wish to explicitly denounce in legislation attacks on Police and Corrections officers.