Page 2239 - Week 07 - Thursday, 16 June 1994

MADAM SPEAKER, THE BILL WILL ALSO ENABLE THE TRIBUNAL TO USE

MEDIATION TO RESOLVE DISPUTES. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT

OF THE BILL. MEDIATION IS ALREADY A FEATURE OF THE

COMMONWEALTH TRIBUNAL.

AS MEMBERS WILL BE AWARE, IN MEDIATION, A NEUTRAL THIRD PERSON

ASSISTS THE PARTIES TO ARRIVE AT THEIR OWN SOLUTION TO THEIR

DISPUTE. THE ESSENCE OF MEDIATION IS THAT THE PARTIES ARE

EMPOWERED TO PRODUCE THE RESULT THAT IS BEST SUITED TO THEIR OWN

CIRCUMSTANCES.

OF COURSE NOT ALL MATTERS ARE SUITABLE FOR MEDIATION. THE PROCESS

OF MEDIATION REQUIRES THE CONTINUED CONSENT AND CO-OPERATION OF

THE PARTIES.

THIS GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS MEDIATION BECAUSE THERE IS A

COMMUNITY BENEFIT IN PEOPLE USING NEGOTIATION, DISCUSSION

AND OTHER POSITIVE METHODS OF RESOLVING CONFLICT. IT WILL BE

REMEMBERED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WHOLE HEARTEDLY

SUPPORTED THE RECENT LAW SOCIETY INITIATIVE CALLED "MEDIATE

FIRST".

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