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Victoria to inject $210m into improving court services
The Andrews Labor government has announced that it will provide nearly a quarter of a billion dollars to help drive down COVID-19 court backlogs and bolster resources in courts across the state.
Jerome Doraisamy
Victoria is set to invest $210 million to speed up the resolution of court and tribunal matters, through appointments of new judicial officers, expanding IT and digital upgrades, and further support for case management services.
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The announcement, made late last week, forms part of the state’s 2021-22 budget.
The funding will be divested as follows:
- $34.8 million for court resources, including innovative case management programs, expanded online services, the appointment of additional judicial officers, court support staff, and remote-hearing services.
- $40.9 million for an expansion to the Online Magistrates’ Court, including two new magistrates to preside over the court and additional courtrooms.
- $56.7 million for the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to transition more of its hearings online.
- $22.9 million to continue measures “that have helped courts better manage their caseload, including active case management at the Supreme and County courts, which involves court and registry staff working with parties to identify issues early and overseeing compliance with orders – reducing the load on judges”.
- $55.3 million for Victoria Legal Aid, Victoria Police, the Office of Public Prosecutions, Corrections Victoria and victim services, ensuring they have the resources they need to play their part in reducing the backlogs and “in recognition of the flow-on impacts for other parts of government”.
The announcement follows that of the federal government on Tuesday, 11 May, in which Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced that $416.2 million would be directed at bolstering the family law system, among other measures that impact upon the legal sector.
Speaking about the funding injection for Victoria’s court system, Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes (pictured) said: “The coronavirus pandemic showed that court services can be delivered differently, and we want to see that continue – with more digital services delivering a faster and more flexible justice system for more Victorians.”
“Courts and tribunals did a great job getting through the pandemic and they learnt a lot. Now they’ve told us what funding, resources and staff they need to drive down the resulting backlogs – and we have listened,” she proclaimed.
“This funding is about supporting innovative, agile responses to court backlogs – allowing our judicial officers to focus on what’s important.”
Responses from the profession
In response to the announcement, the Law Institute of Victoria said the “substantial” investment in the justice system was a welcome one, on top of what was announced by the federal government earlier in the week.
“The additional courts funding will help prevent cases getting bogged down while waiting for resolution,” said LIV president Tania Wolff.
“It is a truism that justice delayed is justice denied. Delays can stymie delivery of justice. They cause stress and pressure on victims, witnesses and those facing charges.”
LIV hopes, Ms Wolff continued, that the funding will also be rolled out to regional courts to enable people to access justice locally: “We will continue to work with the courts, the government and the profession to examine what measures introduced during last year’s COVID pandemic worked well and what further reforms are needed to ensure people have their day in court, whether it is virtual or in person.”
The Victorian Bar also supports the announcement, with president Christopher Blanden QC saying that the state’s barristers look forward to “being a part of efforts to reduce court backlogs and encourage quicker and easier resolutions to court and tribunal matters”.
“We particularly welcome the appointment of four County Court judges, new magistrates and judicial registrars to supplement existing resources,” he said.
“While the Victorian Bar supports efforts to improve the digitalisation of courts and tribunals to enhance online hearings, Victorian barristers look forward to the reintroduction of in-person appearances as this has always been a fundamental aspect of the Victorian legal system.”
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