Justice System

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:16): Supplementary: how many judgements of the judges of the Supreme Court or the District Court respectively were outstanding as at 30 October 2015, and how many of those were for more than 12 months? If the Attorney doesn't have that information available, given his last answer, will he obtain it and provide it to the house?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Child Protection Reform) (14:17): As to the second question first, one can but ask, and I'm quite happy to ask, but I do go back to what I said before, which is that one can ask but one does not always receive.

Mr Williams: You're telling us that?

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Indeed; one can ask and one does not always receive. I'm quite happy to ask, but they may say, 'Look, that is our matter to manage. You don't need to trouble yourself about those things.' And, I say this, Mr Speaker: if I were to take the matter further, if they were to answer, and say I want to interrogate your answer by being provided with more details, like which particular judicial officer and for how long, I would expect there would be some pushback about that; but I am entirely happy to convey to the courts the fact that the member for Bragg has asked me this question and that I have been invited to make a request of them and that I do so accordingly.