Page 3927 - Week 13 - Thursday, 17 October 1991
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Government is returned - and I stress "if" - following, no doubt, successful negotiations with the Commonwealth, there will be adequate and proper facilities provided in a better state for our judges, who are not appropriately housed and provided for at the moment.
MR CONNOLLY: When the Labor Government is returned and when the courts come over on 1 July, I am sure it will be a smooth process. We said in opposition that we were somewhat sceptical about the rather grandiose proposals that had been announced for a major redevelopment of a court precinct in the Territory. We have to face the reality of a budget with difficulties.
There is work going on within the department and with Public Works about ways of refurbishing the Supreme Court building to make it somewhat more useable - and I acknowledge that the facilities there are less than appropriate, and they, of course, are Commonwealth facilities now. It seems fairly clear that they have been allowed to run down. The Commonwealth has had in recent years a major program of upgrading Commonwealth court facilities around the Commonwealth; but, strangely enough, the ACT dropped off that program and we still have, effectively, 1960s standard facilities in judges' chambers there. The magistrates courts are dispersed around the Territory.
We are looking at cost-effective ways of perhaps extending, altering or building an annex to that building that would bring the courts together. But it will not be a grandiose project. We will also be looking, of course, at negotiating with the Commonwealth - - -
Mr Jensen: Show some vision.
MR CONNOLLY: I hear, "Show some vision", from the Residents Rally. What I want is for the Residents Rally's vision of the money tree to be realised. You see, in their vision there is a money tree. We keep looking for it throughout the Territory. Mr Wood has his conservation officers out in the forest looking for this mythical money tree, but so far we have not found it. Until we do, we have to operate within the parameters of the budget in a responsible manner. So, we are doing what we can; the situation is under control; and, as I say, we will negotiate with the Commonwealth - - -
Mr Collaery: You are doing nothing for social justice.
MR CONNOLLY: It is a question of priorities of social justice. To me, the choice between building a $50m court precinct and putting more money into disability services or the like does raise the question of which entails the greater social justice - and I know on which side I fall in that debate.
Mr Duby: Do you think the judges can go hang?
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