VOLUME VOLUME 12 12 •• NUMBER NUMBER 22 •• WINTER WINTER 2015 2015
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
2
COMPANY
INFORMATION 3 PRESIDENT’S REPORT 4
NEWS IN BRIEF
7 ON A LIGHTER NOTE 8
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
10 Q & A 12
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
15 ROLL OF HONOUR 16 REGIONAL
QJA - ESTABLISHED IN 1918 Official Magazine of the Queensland Justices Association
e-JOURNAL IS ON THE WAY Thank you to everyone who responded to our call for feedback on the proposal to transition the quarterly QJA Journal to an electronic platform. The overwhelming majority of respondents expressed support for proceeding with the transition. Some preferred the digital e-book style whilst others favoured the PDF format and, based on this feedback, we will provide access to both options. As we expected, a minority of respondents retained their preference for receiving a hard copy Journal. Of course, we will continue to provide hard copy for the category of members who are unable to successfully receive or read the digital versions. We are pleased to find the majority of members actually prefer the electronic format. However, as well as responding to member preferences, the Board has an obligation to manage members’ funds in a responsible manner. As printing and postage costs continue to escalate, the elimination of these two steps for a large part of the Journal circulation will deliver an economic benefit to QJA. The differential in the cost of servicing the hard-copy v soft-copy member categories is an issue the Board will need to address long term. It was 12 months ago (Winter 2014) when we first forecast the introduction of the electronic Journal and we have sought reader feedback on several occasions since then. We believe adequate notice has been given and now is the time to make the transition. So, if we have your email address, and unless you advise us otherwise (see below), this will be the last hard copy edition we send to you. From the next edition (Spring 2015), you will instead be given access to electronic formats. If we do not have an email address for you, future editions will continue to be provided in hard copy. In the week preceding the mailout of the current edition, an email was distributed to give you access to the electronic formats so you can further evaluate which suits you best prior to the switch in September. The email also included an opportunity for you to opt out of the switch away from hard copy. You should be aware that if you choose to continue receiving the hard copy version, your membership cost in the future may be higher than members who accept the transition.
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL VISITS QJA
CONTACTS Helpful Phone Numbers
On Tuesday 12 May 2015, the Shadow Attorney-General (& Shadow Minister for Justice & Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations & the Arts) Ian Walker MP visited the QJA State Office to discuss Opposition Policy on matters affecting Queensland justices.
INSERTS • AGM NOTICE & PROXY • BOARD NOMINATION FORM • 2015 STATE CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM The Shadow Attorney-General is pictured (2nd from L) with QJA Director John Carpendale, QJA Business Manager & Registrar Wendy La Macchia and QJA President Keith Revell.
Serving Queensland’s Honorary Justices since 1918