PM: No more ‘brain drain’ in judiciary

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill yesterday welcomed the appointment of four new judges to the National and Supreme courts of PNG and vowed to prevent a “brain drain” in the judiciary.
The appointment of Stephen Kassman and Jacinta Murray as permanent judges, and the arrival of Berna Joan Collier and John Alexander Logan from the Australian Federal Court, brings to 24 the number of permanent judges on the bench.
The need to appoint more judges and retain highly qualified and experienced judges was not lost on parliament when it passed a law in May 2009 to increase the number of judges to 40.
This law was certified two months later in July, clearing the way for more judges to be appointed.
Parliament had also passed an amendment to the Organic Law last March extending the retirement age of judges from 60 to 72.
The change to the Organic Law on the terms and condition of employment for judges was, however, not certified. Therefore, it is not in operation.
The stalling of the certification of this law resulted in experienced judges like Justice Greg Lay and Kubulan Los leaving the bench having reached the retirement age of 60.
The stalling of the certification process was blamed on former attorney-general Sir Arnold Amet.
“People like Sir Arnold, a former chief justice, knows the need for more judges to be appointed and to retain qualified and experienced judges on the bench.
“Yet, he sat on the certification process for 21 months.
“Only he knows why he did this,” O’Neill said yesterday.
After consulting the attorney-general, the prime minister met with lawyers of the Department of Prime Minister and requested them to start the certification process.
Speaker Jeffery Nape was expected to sign the amendment into law today, making it operational.
“We cannot allow a brain-drain at the judiciary.
“We have experienced judges who have years of service left in them in the judiciary.
“It is only proper that we extend the compulsory retirement age of judges to 72 so these judges can continue to be of service to the country at the bench,” O’Neill said.
However, concerns over pay disparity could not be clarified yesterday.