Annual Report 2016-17

13 Overview of the Commission Examining complaints Of the complaints examined this year, 96% were summarily dismissed following the Commission’s independent preliminary examination. Although the number of complaints made has risen this year, we finalised the examination of 99% of complaints within 12 months of receipt. Engaging with our partners and the community A major capacity-building project has been the development of the pilot Integrated Criminal Case System Database for the National and Supreme Courts of Papua New Guinea to assist the PNG justice sector. This project was launched in September 2016 and the pilot phase commenced in March 2017. The Commission provided intensive training to PNG court staff for loading information onto the database and for users to access the information. To further engage with the public about our work and role in the justice system, we agreed to give the Rule of Law Institute, an independent not-for-profit organisation which provides educational resources, our assistance in 2015. This has continued and during the year, we conducted seminars for high school students and provided free access to our legal information on the Judicial Information Research System (JIRS). Our people The staff of the Commission continue to express high satisfaction in their work with a rate of 91%. As communication continues to be the one area our staff have identified for improvement, we will review our office communication strategy to meet their expectations. Commission membership The Honourable Justice Michael Walton’s term as an official member of the Commission ended in December 2016 when his Honour was appointed to the Supreme Court following the restructure of the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW (IRC). I wish to thank his Honour for his valuable contribution to the Commission’s work since 2014. I welcome Mr Peter Kite SC, Chief Commissioner of the IRC, as an official member of the Commission in his capacity as head of the IRC and look forward to working with him. Our governance, policies and processes We have had a robust approach to governance with 10 Commission meetings and 4 Audit and Risk Management Committee (ARMC) meetings. The ARMC became fully independent on 1 March 2017. I would like to welcome Dr Colin Gellatly AO as an independent member of the ARMC. Financial result Our financial result was a surplus of $1.24 million. We received an unmodified audit report for our financial statements from the Auditor General of NSW. Revenue from the NSW Government increased to $6.766 million in 2016–17 from $3.755 million in the previous year. This increase was due to two factors. First, our capital allocation was increased for the new office fit out. Second, the 2015–16 recurrent allocation was reduced by approximately $1.4 million to reduce the cash at bank balance to the buffer amount set under the NSW Treasury cash management reforms. Strategic direction for 2017–18 In October 2017, the Commission will mark 30 years of operations. We will use this anniversary to formulate our strategic direction into the next decade. Digital technology continues to alter the way we deliver our continuing education program and legal information resources. It also presents many exciting opportunities for refreshing the way we provide our services. Our continuing judicial education focus will be on reviewing the range of publications we offer to ensure they are relevant and their delivery is current. Our legal information focus will be to research and publish a study on developments in the law concerning the appeal process. We will design and deliver a revised community information program and continue to participate in the work of the International Organization for Judicial Training (IOJT) and the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute (CJEI). Being involved in the work of the IOJT, the CJEI and other providers of judicial education allows us to share knowledge and apply world’s best practice to the continuing judicial education program in NSW. My thanks I extend my thanks to the Commission members for their invaluable leadership and assistance and the many judicial officers who give their time and expertise to serve on our education and bench book committees. Also those who have assisted in the design and delivery of the education program and updating our legal information are sincerely acknowledged. I also thank the Commission’s loyal staff who continue to help the Judicial Commission to realise its mission to promote the highest standards of judicial behaviour, performance and decision making. Ernest Schmatt PSM Chief Executive, Judicial Commission of NSW