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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 5 Hansard (15 May) . . Page.. 1567 ..

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

QUESTION NUMBER 396

Court Transcript Costs

Mr Wood- Asked the Attorney-General:

Question 1: In relation to the provision of transcripts of lower court proceedings which are provided on contract by Auscript:

(1) Is it the case that these transcripts are on-sold by the Government through the Magistrates Court at a profit.

(2) Does the Supreme Court also require that appellants provide (and therefore pay) for the transcripts it needs.

(3) Is this an imposition on people, especially those who have limited financial means, to be fair and in the interests of providing justice for all.

(4) Is it true that in a recent court case the judge required the court to provide a transcript because the appellant could not.

(5) Will you accept this precedent and provide the transcripts free, at least to those people who would qualify for legal aid.

Mr Humphries: The answers to the members' questions to the Attorney-General are as follows;

Question 1: No. Auscript charges the ACT Magistrates Court $8.25 per page in the ordinary course of events, and $10.25 per page for priority transcripts. The ACT Magistrates Court charges applicants at the lower rate of $8.25 as prescribed by the Magistrates Court Act 1930.

Question 2: Generally the appellant is required to provide, and pay for, any transcript required for the purpose of an appeal to the Supreme Court. Successful appellants can seek an order for costs, including the cost of transcripts, against the other party.

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