HULLS WRONG ON JUSTICES OF THE PEACE: MIRABELLA
21-July-2009
Sophie Mirabella MP, Federal Member for Indi, has cautioned the Victorian Government against any moves to scrap Justices of the Peace, following Attorney General Rob Hulls’ announcement of a review of the role.
“Justices of the peace play a vital role in our community right across the north-east and are a wonderful illustration of the spirit of volunteerism in our society. I find it extraordinary that the state’s Chief Law Officer would remark that ‘it’s open to debate whether there is still a need for justices of the peace in the 21st century’,” Mrs Mirabella said.
“I am deeply concerned that Mr Hulls’ ‘review’ will only shift more responsibility on to other sections of the community, such as our local police officers. Across the north-east, volunteer JPs have witnessed and signed thousands of documents, ultimately lessening the burden on police officers.”
“Without the vital role of JPs in witnessing statutory declarations and signing affidavits and sitting as independent witness to minors, police officers will be forced to pick up the bureaucratic burden.”
“Police stations may well become document-signing centres which will be an enormous drain on police resources. The last thing our policemen and women in the north-east need is to be burdened with more paperwork,” Mrs Mirabella said.
Mr Hulls’ announcement of a review into the functions of the justice of the peace system comes after the Victorian Ombudsman condemned the behaviour of Labor Party heavyweight Hakki Suleyman who had his JP title stripped following the Ombudsman’s findings that he had inappropriately intervened in the workings of the Labor Party-controlled Brimbank Council. Mr Hulls had previously endorsed Mr Suleyman as a JP, even though Mr Suleyman had a criminal record and conviction.
“Why should JPs across the north-east have their role and function in society diminished because Labor can’t control their own members from abusing their positions of trust in the community?” Mrs Mirabella said.
“For the Attorney General to now threaten to scrap a valued and historical institution that serves the community well is a slap in the face to the hundreds of JPs across the north-east who carry out their duties in a tireless and conscientious manner for the community.”
“I call on the Attorney General to think very carefully before embarking on dismantling the role and function of justices of the peace in our community,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.