Shadow Attorney-General Robert Clark with the worried Dandenong Honorary Justice Group members, Peter Nodin, Nadia Wildes, Jack Jones, Wendy Cantwell and John Heeps. Picture: Bridget Cook
By Melissa Meehan
“SAVE our JPs.”
That’s the catch cry from the Dandenong Honorary Justice Group who say they don’t know whether they will still have a job next year.
Each member of the group is appointed by the Governor in Council as a Justice of the Peace to witness official documents such as statutory declarations and affidavits. There are more than 4500 JPs serving as volunteers in Victoria.
The Labor Government is reviewing the role JPs play in the justice system. It has released a consultation paper with a decision on their future pending.
Shadow Attorney-General Robert Clark met with the group in Emerald last week.
“People here are very concerned that if JPs are abolished there won’t be people around to witness documents,” Mr Clark said.
“Without JPs, police will be tied up signing documents instead of catching criminals.”
Wendy Cantwell works out of the Narre Warren Police Station along with 27 others.
“We’ve been working from there for about four years,” she said.
“And we have witnessed more than 310,000 documents during that time. Imagine how much time we have saved local police.”
The group believes that the review of JP’s role is due to one mistake made by the Attorney-General Rob Hulls.
“One man, who we won’t name, was made a JP when he shouldn’t have been, and now that one decision threatens to ruin it for the rest of the community,” group member Nadia Wildes said.
Mr Clark echoed the sentiment of the group.
“They (the JPs) do a fantastic job,” he said.
“We are campaigning to make sure that our JPs are not lost for ever.
“They are a valuable institution within our community.”
The group, who say have a constant threat hanging over their heads until a decision is made, expect to hear whether their positions will continue early next year.
“Instead of abolishing JPs, why don’t they just tighten up the rules so not everyone can become a JP?” Ms Wildes said.
