Time Has Come for Privy Council Abolition
“The establishment of our own Supreme Court signals the coming of age of our judicial system,” Council of Trade Unions
president Ross Wilson said today.
“It is demeaning for us as an independent country that conservative parties want to retain this last vestige of
colonialism,” he said.
“We produce fine lawyers here who are in touch with our culture and responsibilities, and who are the equal of judges
from the UK and other countries, including New Zealand, who sit on the Privy Council,” Ross Wilson said
Ross Wilson said there were many advantages in the prospective reform from the point of view of the ordinary New
Zealander.
“It will increase access to justice at this level and at least give the ordinary New Zealander the possibility of access
to our highest court at an affordable cost.
“But most importantly it will be an expression of confidence in ourselves as a nation.”
Ross Wilson said abolition of the Privy Council anachronism was long overdue.
“Arguments for retaining the Privy Council on the basis that it is a high level justice on the cheap for New Zealand are
an embarrassment,” he said.
“The UK is talking about establishing its own Supreme Court and we should abolish appeals to the Privy Council before we
are asked to.”