One local Justice of the Peace (JP) is concerned that the skill is dying off after the introduction of computerised licence renewals.
JPs are all volunteers who become appointed by the NSW Governor with their main task being to witness people making a statutory declaration or affidavit, and to certify copies of original documents.
Marie Haining has been working in the legal profession for over five decades and originally became a JP to serve both her profession and the community.
“I was working in a legal office, and I just felt it was a good opportunity to help the community and be available for people that need witnessing of documents,” Haining told the Weekender.
Since becoming a JP all those years ago, she has proudly renewed her licence every five years until the last time when the process had changed, and she made the hard decision to not renew her JP licence.
“You’ve got to go online [now], and you can’t get one question wrong on the online portal and it is just making it harder for JPs to renew their certificates,” Haining said.
“I let mine go because of that. I don’t have an hour to spend on the computer. It expired on the 16th of June this year.”
It has saddened Haining that the renewal process changed and is something she predicts will see a lot of other JPs in a similar position not renew their licence either.
“I’m extremely sad because I felt like I did my part for the community and the government acknowledged it as well,” Haining said.
“Like I said, it is not just me, I’d hate to think of how many other JPs have let their certificate lapse because of the timeframe of trying to get it renewed.”
Ultimately, Haining shared that she was proud to have done her part to help her community for many decades.
“I was on the register for JPs, and we had many people who came here after they found me on the register and just out of the blue needed documents witnessed,” Haining said.
Haining is also concerned that the younger generations are not becoming JPs, something she believes is a vital service in the local community.
“I think it’s something that’s just going to be phased out in the end because there is going to be no one applying,” Haining said.
“That is a concern, mainly for the community and as I say you do need JPs.”
Hanning is encouraging people who want to become a Justice of the Peace to visit https://dcj.nsw.gov.au/legal-and-justice/legal-assistance-and-representation/justice-of-the-peace/become-a-jp.html.
Emily Chate
Emily Chate joined The Western Weekender in 2024, and covers local news - primarily courts and politics. A graduate of the University of Wollongong, Emily has contributed to The Daily Telegraph and worked as a freelance journalist.