The Cook Labor government has announced an independent jurisdictional review to strengthen the efficiency and accessibility of Western Australia’s justice system, following the launch of a parliamentary inquiry into the state’s chief legal watchdog.
The West Australian government has commissioned an independent jurisdictional review to improve the efficiency and accessibility of the state’s justice system, with a particular focus on reducing delays in both criminal and civil matters.
This announcement comes as the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia prepares to face a separate, rare parliamentary inquiry amid growing concerns from the legal profession over its governance and operations.
The state government review will be led by former Supreme Court judge and State Administrative Tribunal president, Janine Pritchard.
The Cook Labor government stated that the review will involve extensive consultation with key stakeholders, including the judiciary, legal practitioners, court and tribunal staff, and other government bodies.
The purpose of the review is to identify practical measures to reduce the time it takes for matters to reach trial, particularly in the District Court, where delays in criminal proceedings have become a growing concern.
Attorney-General Dr Tony Buti emphasised the importance of completing the review to ensure that all West Australians have timely and accessible access to justice.
“Our court system must be set up to serve all Western Australians appropriately, and I want to investigate how we can make it more efficient and accessible,” Buti said.
“It is also important to ensure we get cost recovery right and to ensure access to justice for all.”
The review will also examine the fee structure in the Supreme Court for civil litigation, with consideration of whether increased cost recovery from well-resourced litigants could be achieved without creating barriers for other court users.
In addition, the review will assess whether matters currently heard in Western Australia’s courts and tribunals – which include the Supreme Court, District Court, Magistrates Court, Children’s Court, Wardens Court, Industrial Magistrates Court, and the State Administrative Tribunal – could be more efficiently allocated between jurisdictions or transferred to other statutory bodies.
Pritchard said she welcomed the opportunity to lead the review, describing it as a chance to make lasting improvements for the community.
“I am honoured to lead this review, which presents a significant opportunity to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of Western Australia’s justice system,” Pritchard said.
“By examining ways to reduce time to trial, we can improve outcomes for all court users, ensuring our system truly serves every Western Australian.
“Our aim is to identify solutions that not only streamline processes but also reduce the harmful impact protracted legal matters can have on individuals in our community.”
