Page 3588 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 24 November 2021
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to seeking out a candidate who is committed, as the government is, to improving the practice in this area of the courts. I look forward to having candidates come forward who have a real passion for improving the coronial system.
A further area of investment is $1.3 million over two years to support the continuation of the therapeutic care court which was established within the ACT Children’s Court in 2019-20. This initiative aims to provide intensive management and therapeutic support to parents involved in care and protection matters, to achieve outcomes in the best interests of children and young people.
There was also $700,000 in this budget to upgrade the Galambany circle sentencing courtroom, including providing round table and technology capability in line with all other courtrooms. The government has been supporting the Galambany circle sentencing court since its inception in 2004, to provide restorative support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants.
The budget includes $350,000 to undertake works to improve building safety at ACT law courts facilities and improve security by extending the perimeter fence and installing additional security cameras.
There is $300,000 to improve the probate system in the ACT, including allowing applicants to advertise their intention to apply for probate on a website built and managed by the ACT courts and tribunal.
Finally, in the court space, there is $200,000 to support the ACT Supreme Court to provide criminal case conferencing, which encourages negotiated settlements and improves the overall efficacy of the criminal justice process. This measure will also support Legal Aid to participate in criminal case conferencing.
This budget provides an additional $7.6 million to enhance the capacity of the ACT Government Solicitor and the Legislation, Policy and Programs—LPP—division of the Justice and Community Safety Directorate. This initiative will enable the Government Solicitor to respond to an increased demand for legal services, and further assist the LPP to drive the government’s legislative reform agenda. Both of these functions are critical to the government’s effectiveness. The talented people delivering them work hard every day to deliver on the government’s legal and legislative priorities. Providing longer term funding means that we provide job security to a great many of these diligent employees.
The government will spend $800,000 to support the development of reforms required to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility. This is a key government priority, and the additional money will mean that the necessary planning is in place to make the transition to a higher age, as we have flagged.
This budget also invests in initiatives to provide support to vulnerable members of the community. We have listened to the community and heard where it is necessary for us to provide these supports. Such measures include $4.6 million to continue to deliver on the ACT’s obligations under the National Redress Scheme for People who have
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