Page 146 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 10 February 2016
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particularly due to an increased level of awareness and reporting on family violence matters, there has been an increase in the number of matters being charged by police and, therefore, matters that need to be dealt with by the DPP.
I meet with the DPP regularly to discuss matters concerning his office where it is relevant for me to do so. The DPP obviously makes submissions to the government through the budget cabinet process for resources where he believes those are necessary. Those are all considered through the budget cabinet process.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Wall.
MR WALL: Attorney, what impact are the increasing workload and the restraint on resources having on individuals’ right to a speedy trial?
MADAM SPEAKER: Sorry, I did not hear the end of that question.
Mr Corbell: Sorry, could you repeat the last part of the question.
MR WALL: In short, what impact are these constraints having on an individual’s right to a speedy trial?
MR CORBELL: I am very pleased to say that when it comes to trials, we have virtually no trials or matters requiring criminal trial considered to be longstanding matters. That is the result of the very significant reform work undertaken by Her Honour the Chief Justice along with the work of my directorate and the support that this place has provided to the Supreme Court where necessary when it comes to legislative reform.
We have a very significant improvement in timeliness in the Supreme Court, particularly when it comes to criminal matters. I would draw to Mr Wall’s attention the most recent report on government services, which confirms that the number of matters that have gone for longer than a year is now dramatically down in the Supreme Court compared to just a few years ago. When it comes to access to criminal trials, it is very much the case now that we do not see extended waits for those matters to go to trial. That is largely because of the reform work that I referred to earlier.
I have to commend the work of our Chief Justice, who has worked very diligently with her brother and sister judges to reform listing practice in the Supreme Court to ensure that matters are brought on in a timely way.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Attorney, does the expansion to the fifth judge cause extra resourcing issues for the DPP?
MR CORBELL: There is the potential for that to occur, and that is why the government will give consideration to resourcing questions for the DPP in the context of the forthcoming budget. It is worth observing that the fifth resident judge for the territory will be appointed at the beginning of the next financial year.
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