Bridges Simon: Judicial Matters Bill — Second Reading 
Bridges Simon: Judicial Matters Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:660;Page:8848] 
SIMON BRIDGES (National—Tauranga) 
: 
 It is good to take a call on the Judicial Matters Bill. I want to talk briefly about the bill and then talk about some matters of principle. 
The bill establishes the office of the Deputy Judicial Conduct Commissioner. It is surprising in a way that this was not done under the initial law that created the Judicial Conduct Commissioner. One can think of any manner of reasons why a commissioner may have to rescind his or her position. There may be a conflict of interest or at least a perceived one. The legal community is relatively small. Any lawyer who has been in a big firm will have certainly worked with and amongst lawyers who have gone on to be judges at all sorts of levels and will undoubtedly have many friends who are lawyers—probably a few enemies as well but certainly friends. Perceived conflicts can arise so a deputy is a necessary component of the system. Of course there are other reasons: the commissioner might be absent overseas or incapacitated. My recollection is that there have been situations where that has arisen—certainly with the commissioner being overseas for periods of time. So it is welcome that we are doing this and it is timely. 
This bill increases the number of Associate Judges of the High Court from six to nine—at least potentially. I do not know whether those positions have to be filled but there is now scope for nine. The position of Associate Judge of the High Court is an important one. In many ways these judges are unsung heroes who push a large volume of commercial and civil work through our courts. The list before an associate judge can be like a supermarket list with many lawyers often some lay litigants and the like. The associate judges do an invaluable job not just for the court system but for our commercial community to ensure that business in this country functions. 
I certainly have some fond and not so fond memories of appearing before masters as a young lawyer. My first ever appearance in court was before Master Anne Gambrill a great trailblazer for female lawyers and judges. In the firm I was in I remember that a lawyer slightly older than me could not be bothered going up to court. I do not know what colour the shirt was that I was wearing but we had a policy at the time that we had to have a white shirt to go to court. I went to Hugh Wright’s and I bought a white shirt for about $29.99 and I had my first court appearance. I shakily got up and read to Master Anne Gambrill something like: “May it please the court the parties by consent seek an adjournment.” and I sat down. Fortunately she did not ask me any questions. 
Hon Steve Chadwick 
: Your $29 worth. 
SIMON BRIDGES 
: It was. She was good to me and I recall appearing before her many times after that when I got to say a bit more than I did that first time when I read out a sentence or two. 
It is good that we are doing this. Although this bill may in some ways seem a bit dry and—it is not quite the word I am looking for—minor behind it are some fundamental principles that are prerequisites for the rule of law in this country and more than that for liberal democracy and a functioning business community and economy. Behind all this is an independent judiciary where we have the rule of law not the rule of men—or women for that matter I say in order to save myself quickly. Where we do not have that independence and we have people simply working to their own standards democratic values and actually business values of open and fair conduct are threatened. We see that in a number of States where we cannot rely on any part of the Government and we cannot rely on anyone’s word. There is no ability to rely on food standards for example or any kind of commercial practice. 
I have digressed but I come back to the bill. An independent judiciary that has a watchdog in the form of a Judicial Conduct Commissioner is an important pillar of both our business community which is so important to us and our liberal democracy. I commend this bill to the House.