Barker Rick: Judicature (High Court Rules) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Barker Rick: Judicature (High Court Rules) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:649;Page:17952] 
Hon RICK BARKER (Minister for Courts) 
: 
 I move  
That the Judicature (High Court Rules) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. 
 At the appropriate time I intend to move that the bill be referred to the Justice and Electoral Committee for consideration and also to ask the committee to report back to the House by 9 September. The Judicature (High Court Rules) Amendment Bill will implement a major rewrite of the High Court Rules and will replace the current High Court Rules that are contained in schedule 2 of the Judicature Act 1908. I am hopeful that we can get this bill through the select committee and back through the debating of the second reading to complete it as soon as possible because the tidying up of these rules will be a significant benefit to all court users. 
The High Court Rules govern the practice and the procedure of the High Court. Their purpose is to facilitate the expeditious inexpensive and just dispatch of court business or otherwise assist the due administration of justice. The High Court Rules with suitable adaptations will also apply to civil proceedings in the District Court where they will be supplemented by specific provisions. 
In 2004 the Law Commission recommended that the rules of the court be redrafted with the following aims: to clarify and simplify the language to have proportionality of procedure and to enhance access to justice for all citizens. In 2004 the Rules Committee commenced separate projects to redraft the High Court Rules and the District Court Rules. Between 2004 and 2008 the Rules Committee reviewed the current High Court Rules and prepared the new High Court Rules. 
An exposure draft of these rules was released in April 2007 for a 3-month public consultation period. Submissions received supported the revisions and further drafting improvements followed. One of the major goals of the rewrite was to give the rules a general tidy-up by improving the rules’ structure and layout by updating the language and by removing obsolete rules and statutory references. Individually these changes may seem insignificant but when put together they are significant for all court users. Although the new rules closely follow the content of the current High Court Rules there are certain changes that although related to the court procedure require parliamentary approval. This rewrite has been no small feat as shown by the thickness of the bill containing the rules. 
I express my gratitude to the Rules Committee for their considerable endeavours. In particular I acknowledge the work of Justice Baragwanath who was the chair of the Rules Committee for most of the project and Dr Donald Mathieson QC Special Parliamentary Counsel for the Parliamentary Counsel Office who was responsible for leading the drafting of this very large and very good legislation. I also acknowledge the other members of Parliament here today who have had a considerable hand in this as well. 
This legislation has been well debated and thoroughly worked through. It is a very fine example of legislation that will have almost unanimity in this House certainly with those who have shown any interest in it. The legislation is long overdue and well looked forward to. Proposed amendments constitute an important improvement in ensuring an effective and efficient court system. I commend the Judicature (High Court Rules) Amendment Bill to the House.