NYLAND, JUSTICE MARGARET

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (14:11): My question is to the Attorney-General. Can the Attorney-General inform the house about the upcoming retirement of a Supreme Court justice?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:11): Members may be interested to know that on Friday of this week I will be attending the Supreme Court to acknowledge the retirement of the honourable Justice Margaret Nyland AM. I am sure the member for Bragg will be there. Justice Nyland has served for 25 years on the bench, 19 of them in the Supreme Court. Justice Nyland entered the law at a time when female lawyers were extremely uncommon and Her Honour was one of just 15 female undergraduates studying law in Her Honour's first year amongst 115 men. The year Justice Nyland was admitted to the bar, Dame Roma Mitchell set an inspiring precedent as the first woman to be appointed to a supreme court bench in Australia.

Justice Nyland took the honour of being appointed the second South Australian Supreme Court justice, after Justice Mitchell, and the nation's fourth female superior court justice in 1993. Her Honour was, in fact, sworn in by Dame Roma in her role as Governor of this state at that time. Chief Justice King recognised the momentous nature of the day inviting the Governor to the bench on that occasion.

Justice Nyland's work on the bench has been marked by a sensitivity and skill that cannot be overstated. Her Honour's ease in the courtroom puts others at their ease. It is no accident that so many difficult criminal cases have come Her Honour's way.

Justice Nyland's wisdom and experience are widely valued and will be hard to replace. Justice Nyland has had a significant impact on her associates. I am reliably informed that Her Honour claims to have had direct impact in the marriage of not one but two of her former associates. The young lawyers working at the Supreme Court were lucky enough to have such a caring and generous mentor during Her Honour's time on the bench.

On behalf of the government and all South Australians, I thank the honourable Justice Nyland for her service to the law. This state is blessed with an outstanding Supreme Court and District Court bench of which Her Honour was a valuable and, for the time being, continues to be, a valuable member.

The government wishes Her Honour all the very best in her retirement and, as I said, I will be personally attending the ceremony on Friday to honour Her Honour's period as an outstanding judge of that court.