NSW’s local judicial officers will have their titles upgraded from magistrate to judge under new legislation.
Amendments to the Local Court Act 2007 changed the title of NSW magistrates, including the chief magistrate, deputy chief magistrate, children’s magistrate, chief industrial magistrate, industrial magistrate, and acting magistrate.
The changes follow similar upgrades in the Northern Territory’s Local Court and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia.
Attorney-General Michael Daley said it was “not just about a name”.
“It’s about ensuring the skill and contributions of judicial officers in the Local Court are properly recognised,” Daley said.
The amendments reflect the volume of work in the Local Court.
In 2024, there were more than 388,000 criminal matters in the Local Court, up 34 per cent from 2014.
There were also more than 67,800 civil matters, up 31 per cent since 2022.
Daley said the Local Court is Australia’s biggest jurisdiction.
“It makes more than 90 per cent of all judicial decisions in NSW, and the nature of its work is becoming increasingly complex,” he said.
The bill also amended the Judicial Officers Act 1986 to reflect the new titles, and the changes to the Constitution Act 1902 will ensure that protections to safeguard the independence and integrity of magistrates continue to apply.
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
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