Ardern Jacinda: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeArdern Jacinda: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 02 March 2016. Volume:711;Page:9291. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]7.JACINDA ARDERN (Labour) to the Minister of Justice: Is she satisfied with all of the outcomes of her predecessor’s family law reforms?Hon AMY ADAMS (Minister of Justice): It is my view that the family law reforms have had a positive impact on the Family Court. The reforms were designed to help people resolve their disputes outside the court where possible saving them and their children from being dragged through court proceedings and freeing up court time for the cases that really need it. Early indication is that it is doing exactly that with more than 50 percent of eligible cases completing family dispute resolution and 85 percent of those being able to resolve some or all matters between them. That being said as with all new systems we have already made—and we will no doubt continue to make—refinements to the system.Jacinda Ardern: Was it her Government’s intention that as the Principal Family Court Judge pointed out this morning an “astounding” 86 percent of claimants are seeking urgent hearings up from 50 percent because her predecessor’s reforms mean this is the only way they get legal representation and avoid massive delays.Hon AMY ADAMS: First of all my officials advise me that the figure is in fact 67 percent of applications are being made without notice. But in actual fact the requirement to be able to apply without notice is an important safeguard. What really matters is which cases proceed without notice and I trust our judges to apply that and I am very confident that the cases that are proceeding without notice are those that really need it.Jacinda Ardern: Does she agree with claims that her Government’s reforms have led to an unfair two-tiered system where families with money access a lawyer and “can get all the assistance [they] need” and the rest are left struggling with just an advice service and self-representation?Hon AMY ADAMS: No I do not because as the member has just pointed out the reforms remove lawyers from the process for everyone except where they are absolutely necessary and where they are the family legal advice service is available and legal aid is available. But the whole point is that in the main these are disputes around how to care for a couple’s children—they are not legal issues; they are human and relationship issues—and keeping lawyers out and allowing parties to resolve matters for themselves has been internationally proven to give better more resilient results.Jacinda Ardern: Does she share the concerns expressed by the Principal Family Court Judge whom she says she trusts that these reforms have led to people with unresolved disputes walking away and that “we are talking about thousands of people.” when she dismissed these very same concerns at select committee last year?Hon AMY ADAMS: I do not believe it is leading people to walk away. I believe there are a lot of people who manage to resolve their own issues. In fact the reforms have helped people to get Parenting through Separation advice and to resolve their disputes through mediation and so a lot fewer need to go to court which is exactly what we want. What we are finding is that the cases that end up in court are those that absolutely need to be there. When they get to court if they need legal advice if they need lawyers in court the judges are very free to make that order.Jacinda Ardern: Will she commit to bringing forward the formal evaluation of her predecessor’s reforms which is not scheduled to happen till 2017 and fix this mess given the systemic issues that have been raised now by judges and the impact that it is having on families and the lives of children?Hon AMY ADAMS: As I said in the answer to the primary question all of the information tells us that it is working and is having a very positive effect. It is not going to resolve every issue. The evaluation will take place but we have to have the right amount of data. They are already doing initial evaluations but as you say the full evaluation will take place next year. But actually there is every indication that far more people are now resolving their cases themselves directly without the aid of lawyers more quickly and in a more resilient way. I think that is a good thing.