Power Simon: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members Questions to Ministers 
Power Simon: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:615;Page:11510] 
9.  
SIMON POWER (National—Rangitikei) 
 to the  
Minister for Courts 
: How many cases have been deferred by the disputes tribunal over the past week because of referee unavailability? 
Hon RICK BARKER (Minister for Courts) 
: 
 Figures made available to me by the Ministry of Justice indicate that 92 cases have been deferred. 
Simon Power 
: Can the Minister confirm that through the general manager of the courts he has ordered court officials not to tell those applicants to the disputes tribunal the true reason for the deferment of their dispute cases which is that the referees are on strike because he is refusing in bad faith to meet with them to discuss their concerns; and is that not just another case of a Government department “denying in unison”? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: I absolutely deny that. That is completely and utterly untrue and that member knows it. No such order has ever been given by me or anybody else. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member cannot say that it is untrue and that the member knows it. He will withdraw and apologise for that. 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: I withdraw and apologise. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. When the Minister says that something is utterly untrue I think he is under an obligation to let us know what is untrue. Is he saying that the referees are not on strike or that he has not told anyone that they are not 
on strike or that the court has not told anyone that they are not 
on strike? Just saying that it is untrue leaves the House completely confused. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No. The Minister addressed the question. He was asked a question and his answer was that that was untrue. He is entitled to give that as an answer but it can lead to further supplementary questions. 
Russell Fairbrother 
: What steps has the Minister taken in relation to the daily rate of disputes tribunal referees? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: I have taken a number of steps. A paper has been to Cabinet that addresses the two main issues of concern raised by the referees—the first being the level of the daily fee and the second being the frequency of fee review. The referees’ executive association which represents a number of the referees was given the opportunity for a face-to-face meeting with me. Regrettably it declined that opportunity. I find it somewhat frustrating in trying to resolve this matter because one party to the issue declines an opportunity to meet and discuss the issues. 
Simon Power 
: What action is the Minister undertaking to ensure that more applicants to the disputes tribunals will not be turned away for up to 3 months before their cases can be heard; and do any of these actions involve his keeping his word and undertaking to negotiate in good faith with these judicial officers? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: I always keep my word and I act in good faith. I resent any implication by any member of this House to the contrary. I undertook to the referees to go to Cabinet with a paper. I have done so. I have a result. I rang and asked the referees for a meeting in response to their letter and so far they have declined to meet. I cannot force people into my office. I would dearly like to meet them to resolve this matter. 
Murray Smith 
: Can the Minister confirm that in May 2002 the referees’ association was told by the general manager of special jurisdictions within the Department for Courts that a fee review would commence in late June 2002 and be completed by 30 September 2002 and that that has been a major factor in the huge frustration among referees? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: In general terms I think that is correct although I cannot be absolutely certain about the specifics. I understand and have heard the extreme frustration of the disputes tribunals referees and I am doing my very best to respond to that. I would like to sit down and discuss the matter with them. 
Murray Smith 
: I seek leave to table a letter to the general manager from the chairperson of the disputes tribunals’ referees association dated 2 April 2003 expressing the referees’ concern and frustration in terms of getting a final recommendation made in terms of fees. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.