“It’s frustrating that the key issues are not being debated.”
Janet Mason, the counsel who assisted the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the appointment and suspension of former FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali, has responded to renewed public scrutiny over her past legal history, calling it a distraction from the substance of the commission’s findings.
This follows the resurfacing of a 2015 New Zealand tribunal ruling that denied her renewal as a sole practitioner.
The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal had upheld the Law Society’s decision after finding that Ms Mason’s former law firm, Pacific Law Ltd, was placed into liquidation due to unpaid Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) obligations totalling approximately $NZ365,000.
The tribunal noted the failure to meet those obligations represented “a serious failure to meet tax obligations that a sole practitioner must manage diligently”.
In her submissions at the time, Ms Mason said the financial difficulties were a result of common small firm challenges, such as cash flow constraints and delayed client payments.
She stressed there was no dishonesty involved and that liquidation was a business decision, not a reflection of professional misconduct.
Despite the ruling, Ms Mason was not barred from practising law.
She said she underwent the appropriate process to obtain a practising certificate in Fiji, which was granted.
“Throughout the entire time since my PC was first granted, I have been practising law.
“Everyone has moved on.”
Ms Mason defended her appointment to the commission and questioned the credibility of critics who questioned her seat in the commission.
“Instead, the focus is on personal attacks.
“It’s just so wrong.”
