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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-05-14 Daily Xml
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JusticeNet SA

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (15:02): My question is directed to the Attorney-General. Can the Attorney-General inform the house about the recent JusticeNet SA's Walk For Justice?

The SPEAKER: Just before the Deputy Premier begins with the words, 'The year King Uzziah died,' I am informed by the Clerk that no less an authority than Speaker Lewis has ruled that 'mob' is not unparliamentary.

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) (15:03): There was a palpable sense of relief with that ruling across the chamber, and I know my colleague the Minister for Health was relieved.

More importantly, JusticeNet is a valuable not-for-profit organisation that provides pro bono legal representation. Along with the Legal Services Commission and community legal centres, JusticeNet SA forms a critical component of our justice system by helping to ensure that South Australians have access to justice when they become involved in stressful and costly legal disputes.

On Tuesday, I had the privilege, along with the member for Bragg—who I might say looked absolutely outstanding in her morning exercise attire and much more glamorous than me, and I am going to try and match her next year—

Mr Marshall: Did you even walk? Did you start the walk?

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I did.

Mr Marshall: How many paces did you get into the walk?

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Just calm down. There's more to come. I just want to say, Mr Speaker, if you have the time next year, I would be very honoured if you would join us, and you will see what I mean about the member for Bragg who was looking extremely sort of sporty, and I did feel somewhat—

Mr GARDNER: Point of order: this is insulting and is not debate; it's nonsense.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Aside from the two of us, there were some 450 people there and all of them were there because they actually care about our justice system, and they care about JusticeNet. We started walking roughly in an easterly direction from the University of Adelaide and we crossed over Frome Road, and then we moved along past the old Royal Adelaide Hospital and then we turned basically to the north I guess and went through the Botanic Gardens, and it was beautiful at that time of the morning.

Then as we had gone through the Botanic Gardens and into Botanic Park, the member for Bragg and I noticed a slight sprinkling—it was not a lot, just a bit—and then as we crossed over the University Footbridge—no, we didn't go over the footbridge, did we, we went the other way. Anyway, we wound up on the other side of the river and at that stage the rain became quite heavy but that did not stop us and we kept going. Aside from the member for Bragg and me, there were many other notable people there, many more notable than us even, including the Chief Justice—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: No, but he was cooking.

Ms Chapman: He didn't go for the walk.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: No, he didn't go for the walk, not like us. The former prime minister, Julia Gillard, and the Chief Justice and Maggie Beer, who actually did come on the walk and cooked—they actually cooked an excellent breakfast for the people.

In 2013, JusticeNet initiated a self-representation service in the Supreme Court and that provides assistance to people who wish to represent themselves in the Supreme Court, which is always a problematic issue for everybody concerned, including the judge on the bench. The government has provided to JusticeNet a one-off grant of $14,861 so that they can continue this valuable work in the short term. I have asked my department to continue to work with JusticeNet and the Courts Administration Authority on the sustainability of that arrangement.

JusticeNet unites solicitors, barristers and law firms in ensuring that South Australians, including those with disability, poverty and homelessness, are able to be adequately represented. I want to congratulate the organisers of the walk and the organisers of JusticeNet for doing such a spectacular job. Can I mention the member for Schubert, who was involved in the Mid-Winter Ball—

Mr Knoll: And the member for Taylor.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: And the member for Taylor, indeed. They are all lining up behind JusticeNet because guess who one of the big beneficiaries of that ball is going to be? JusticeNet. I think it is really good for people to get behind that.

The SPEAKER: The member's time has expired. The member for Mitchell.

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