Hon Simon Power
Minister of Justice
5 November 2009
Media Statement
Minister attending justice meeting in Australia
Justice Minister Simon Power left today to attend the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General meeting in Sydney.
The meeting comprises the Attorneys-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, its states and territories, and New
Zealand’s Minister of Justice. Norfolk Island has observer status.
The meeting provides a forum for ministers to discuss and progress matters of mutual interest, and seeks to achieve
uniform or harmonised action in the areas of responsibility of its members.
Mr Power will speak about reform of the New Zealand criminal justice system, including initiatives in the Criminal
Procedure (Simplification) Project to improve timeliness and efficiency in criminal cases, and the current review of the
legal aid system by Dame Margaret Bazley.
"The meeting is a valuable opportunity for New Zealand to share its various initiatives for improving our criminal
justice system with our Australian counterparts, and to learn from their experiences," Mr Power said.
ENDS