Question Time - Court Lists
Ms BURNET question to MINISTER for JUSTICE, CORRECTIONS and REHABILITATION, Mr BARNETT
[10.34 a.m.]
Court lists have completely blown out under your government. The Chief Justice said last year -
The court continues to face increasing workloads, backlogs and delay across all elements of its jurisdiction.
The Babb report noted this is leading to increased costs and considerable distress for those involved, particularly victim/survivors and accused persons held on remand. In response to the Babb report, you said your government is committed to ensuring Tasmanians can access a justice system that is efficient, effective and responsive. Yet the secretary of your own department has said to staff, in response to the drastic cuts this government has imposed, that it is simply not possible to do the same amount of the work with fewer staff. Attorney‑General, how do your cuts and vacancy controls lead to a more efficient, effective and responsive justice system?
ANSWER
I thank the honourable member for her question and your interest in the justice system, as I think and I hope all members in this place have a similar interest. I appreciate your opening remarks with respect to the Babb review, and that's why the government took as a priority the importance of access to justice, ensuring that Tasmanians, wherever possible across this great state, can have access to justice in an affordable and timely way. That's why I commissioned Lloyd Babb, SC, who is now, by the way, just been appointed a judge in New South Wales.
Ms BURNET - Standing Order 45, relevance. The question is not about the Babb report, it's about the cuts and vacancy controls which won't lead to more efficient, effective and responsive justice system.
The SPEAKER - In your initial, you did talk about court lists blowing open and everything else. I remind members that if you put in Standing Order 44, if you exceed the prescribed limits of 44, there is latitude for the minister under Standing Order 45. It's the question you ask that determines the response.
Mr BARNETT - Thank you very much. The first half of the question was about the Babb review. That's why I've made reference to it and said it's a priority for our government in terms of access to justice in Tasmania. We have already received and responded to the Babb report and its 20 recommendations. We have said we’ll accept 19, and the 20th recommendation we support will require further consideration. We are getting on with the job. I've had numerous meetings since the Babb report was delivered and am now acting on it, meeting with a range of justice stakeholders, including my department. It's being actively considered and implemented.
You also made reference to the Budget. We need to ensure that we invest heavily in our justice and corrections facilities. What we won't do is increase taxes, like the Labor opposition. We will focus on health, housing, education and community safety. As a government we want to see improved productivity and eliminate duplication. We want to focus on those at the front line. That's what we're on about. We do need those efficiencies and we want to modernise government services in a streamlined approach. We will deliver on that and will remain focused to do so.
Supplementary Question
Ms BURNET - Thank you for that answer. But aren't your deep cuts and vacancy control measures, which get deeper and deeper over the next four years, just going to make court waiting lists longer, putting further strain on victims, witnesses, people on remand, court staff and the lawyers who are leaving the profession in droves?
Mr BARNETT - There was a connection there somewhat to the first part of the first question. It remains a priority of our government, in terms of access to justice, to ensure that we have an open and transparent approach. We are determined to see improvements. There's more work to do. That's why we've had the Babb report, we've accepted those recommendations and we're getting on with the job. There's lots of activity. I thank the justice stakeholders. I meet with them regularly and we will be meeting again in the next couple of months to map a plan in terms of how else they see we can make improvements in our justice system. We are very focused. I met with the secretary again yesterday in my department. This remains top of mind to ensure we get access to justice in Tasmania in an affordable way. We've had one of the best justice reforms in the last 10 years with the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT) being established in 2021. That has produced fantastic results and we're delivering -
The SPEAKER - The honourable minister's time has expired.