Parliament to discuss creating an Appeals Court

JUSTICE Minister and Attorney-General Davis Steven says the Government is bringing back to parliament the bill to create an Appeals Court in the country.
The National asked him on whether the legislation would be reintroduced.
“Yes, that legislation to create the Appeals Court between the Supreme Court and National Court will be introduced in this term of parliament. We are now working on bringing back that bill to parliament,” he said.
“It was not reintroduced for the final reading in the last parliament before its term expired. Once the term expires, all outstanding bills or partly processed bills terminate.”
Constitutional Law and Reform Commission secretary Dr Eric Kwa had said the commission was working with the judiciary to establish an Appeals Court.
Kwa had told The National that Papua New Guineans were becoming more litigious and it was now a burden to the judiciary system and to respond to these.
“Our people are now becoming aware of their rights and they are exercising their rights,” he said.
“As a Government, we need to respond to that. That is why we are now working with the judiciary to change their court structure, so they are pushing for an Appeals Court before the Supreme Court.”
Kwa said provincial courts would deal with provincial cases and all the appeals would go through the Appeals Court.
“So the judiciary is responding to the community reactions,” he said.
Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia had said the Court of Appeal would have 11 judges.