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Justice Minister Simon Power says outgoing Ministry of Justice Chief Executive Belinda Clark brought a high degree of professionalism to her position.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Ms Clark for the past 2½ years.

"She has been at the forefront of some enormous change in the justice system.

"I appreciate the professionalism she instilled in her Ministry on a variety of fronts during that time.

Justice Minister Simon Power today released the terms of reference for the review of the Family Court.

The Family Court is the second busiest court and last year dealt with 68,666 new applications.

“The review will look at how a piecemeal approach to family law reform has impacted on the efficiency of the court, as well as ensuring it is sustainable, cost effective, and responsive to the needs to those who use it and the taxpayers who pay for it,” Mr Power said.

Good morning and thank you for inviting me to speak at your workshop today.

I’d like to acknowledge my fellow MPs, and members of the judiciary, criminal bar, Government departments, NGOs, and the Law Commission for attending this workshop.

As you’ll be aware, I have decided to retire from politics at the election, so this will be one of the last times I speak to the sexual violence sector.

I have to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you over the past two-and-a-half years as Minister of Justice.

The Government has agreed to pay $351,575 compensation to Aaron Farmer for wrongful conviction and imprisonment, the Associate Justice Minister Nathan Guy has announced today.

Mr Farmer was convicted of rape in 2005 and spent two years and three months in prison. His conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal and a retrial ordered after the court found his trial lawyer had not followed up on a potential alibi witness. He was discharged before the second trial began when a new method of DNA testing, not available at the time of his trial, confirmed he was not the offender.

Justice Minister Simon Power today welcomed the Justice and Electoral Committee’s unanimous report to Parliament on a bill which completes the amalgamation of electoral agencies.

The Electoral (Administration) Amendment Bill (No. 2) transfers the functions of the Chief Registrar of Electors to the Electoral Commission.

Mr Power said the establishment of the new Electoral Commission has been done in two stages to minimise the risk to the administration of November’s general election.

A bill to tighten juror privacy, safety, and security and address concerns regarding who can serve on juries, passed its first reading in Parliament today with unanimous support.

The Juries Amendment Bill removes the addresses of potential jurors from jury panel lists, after convicted murderer George Baker wrote to a juror whose name he saw on a list while he was representing himself in a trial.

“The Government takes the safety of jurors seriously,” Justice Minister Simon Power said.

Cabinet has agreed on a package of proposals to get the legal aid cost growth curve back under control, while ensuring access to justice for those who need it, Justice Minister Simon Power announced today.

“We cannot continue to ignore the substantial cost pressures the system is facing, particularly at a time when New Zealand is being forced to borrow an average of $300 million a week.”

A Bill which makes offending against Police and Corrections Officers an aggravating factor at sentencing passed its first reading in Parliament today.

The Minister of Police and Corrections, Judith Collins, told Parliament that the current law did not require a judge to take a law enforcement officer’s status into account as an aggravating factor at sentencing. Instead, it is left to the discretion of the sentencing judge.

Justice Minister Simon Power today announced the appointment of Dinu Harry and reappointment of Rodger Finlay to the board of Public Trust.

The Government is putting proposals to further protect children from assault, neglect and ill-treatment on a faster track than was originally intended, Justice Minister Simon Power said today.

Cabinet yesterday signed off the proposals which will strengthen the Crimes Act via the Crimes Amendment Bill (No 2), which will be introduced to Parliament today.

The bill will:

Thank you for inviting me to speak today.

I’d like to begin by acknowledging the staff of the Canterbury Community Law Centre for their dedication, resilience, and hard work following February’s devastating earthquake.

With their premises red-stickered, not to mention what they were dealing with at home, they were quick to establish themselves in Recovery Centres, helping people get access to emergency Red Cross grants.

Within days they had also set up outreaches in Ashburton, Timaru, and Greymouth.

Justice Minister Simon Power today confirmed one new appointment and two reappointments to the Abortion Supervisory Committee.

The appointments were last week subject to a conscience vote in Parliament, and the warrants were finalised today by the Minister of Justice and the Governor-General.

Dr Tangimoana Habib has been appointed as a member, Reverend Patricia Allan has been reappointed as a member, and Professor Dame Linda Holloway has been reappointed as chair of the committee, each for terms of three years.

A bill which fundamentally reforms the legal aid system passed its final reading in Parliament today.

The Legal Services Bill is part of the Government’s response to Dame Margaret Bazley’s report on the legal aid system which identified system-wide failings and called for urgent action to rebuild trust and confidence in legal aid.

“The new legislation is aimed at improving the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of legal aid for the people who use it, and for the taxpayers who pay for it,” Justice Minister Simon Power said.

The Government has introduced legislation to tighten juror privacy, safety, and security.

Justice Minister Simon Power today introduced the Juries Amendment Bill, which includes a provision to remove the addresses of potential jurors from jury panel lists.

The bill also addresses other concerns regarding who can serve on juries.

The move on juror addresses comes after convicted murderer George Baker wrote to a juror whose name he saw on a list while he was representing himself in a trial.

The Associate Minister of Justice Nathan Guy has unveiled a new code of conduct for private investigators that will apply from 1 April 2011.

“This new code will regulate licensed private investigators. It strikes the right balance between protecting privacy and allowing private investigators to do their job.

“Private investigators’ work has changed significantly over the years. Instead of mainly domestic issues, most work now focuses on alleged employee theft or insurance fraud. 

Associate Justice Minister Nathan Guy has announced the appointment of Kate Davenport as a member and the deputy Chairperson of the Real Estate Agents Disciplinary Tribunal.

The Tribunal is an independent body that hears and determines disciplinary charges against real estate agents.

Ms Davenport is an Auckland-based lawyer with a wide range of legal experience in New Zealand and the UK. She is a former Vice President of the New Zealand Law Society, and is an experienced mediator.

Associate Justice Minister Nathan Guy has announced the appointment of Roger Gill as the inaugural Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority, and Stevan Cole as his Deputy.

“The new position is responsible for the licensing and discipline of private security personnel, including bouncers and private investigators,” says Mr Guy.

The Government's $50 offender levy has reached its first-year target of $2 million nearly five months earlier than expected, Justice Minister Simon Power said today.

Since July last year, all convicted offenders have been required to pay a $50 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.

The money is used to fund eight additional entitlements and services for victims of serious crime.

All crowd controllers and personal guards will require a license to operate by the 1st of November, the Associate Justice Minister Nathan Guy has announced today.

“This includes bouncers and door staff working at bars, who will be regulated for the first time,” says Mr Guy.

“Licensing will involve a criminal background check on all applicants, and serious convictions for violence, drugs or dishonesty is likely to lead to disqualification.

Justice Minister Simon Power today called for public submissions on a discussion document which reviews parts of the bail system.

The document, Bail in New Zealand: Reviewing Aspects of the Bail System, seeks the public’s views on a series of preliminary proposals by the Government.

“When this Government came into office we were focused on securing public safety, which is why we immediately reversed Labour’s 2007 changes which made it easier for people to get bail,” Mr Power said.

Justice Minister Simon Power today officially opened the Wellington Public Defence Service for the Wellington, Lower Hutt and Porirua courts, including the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

The PDS provides a high-quality in-house legal aid service, through the use of salaried staff rather than contracted lawyers.

“The opening of Wellington’s PDS is significant because it is the first branch to open outside the Auckland region,” Mr Power said.

Good afternoon.

I’d like to acknowledge fellow MPs and members of the judiciary and the legal profession for being here today to mark the opening of the Public Defence Service in the Wellington region.

This PDS branch will service district courts in Wellington, Porirua, and Lower Hutt, as well as the higher courts, including the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

It is also from this location that the Public Defender for the southern region will ultimately lead the expansion of the PDS into the South Island.

Australian Attorney-General Robert McClelland and New Zealand Minister of Justice Simon Power today said reforms to ensure Trans-Tasman legal disputes can be resolved more effectively and at lower cost are close to completion.

The Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG) is meeting today in Wellington to discuss progress on a number of issues of mutual concern.

Thank you for inviting me to open the 83^rd Annual Conference of the Royal Federation of New Zealand Justices Association.

Can I acknowledge: