Overhaul in the pipeline for justice
Elise Archer explains that a new computer program will link the courts with the entirety of the justice system
THE Tasmanian government is working hard to ensure access to an effective and efficient justice system for all Tasmanians.
A key part of this commitment is implementing wholesale reforms to the state’s court system to streamline processes in place, many of which had been talked about by former governments but never actioned. There is also little point spending time and money to design and build a modern technology solution to match outdated, paperbased procedures currently contained in the Justices Act.
That’s why, as AttorneyGeneral and Justice Minister, I have prioritised significant legislative changes matched with a $24.5m investment for the development of the new Astria digital solution, which together will bring Tasmania’s justice system into the 21st century.
The Magistrates Court reform package delivered in 2019 and the recently passed Court Backlog Bill have been 18 years in the making, and have been developed to replace the Justices Act 1959 to provide the Magistrates Court with a contemporary, more efficient legislative framework.
These significant reforms have set the platform for the effective rollout of the Astria digital solution, which is being developed by the Justice Connect program within the Department of Justice.
Astria will connect courts, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Tasmania Prison Service, Community Corrections and Victims Support Services.
The digital solution will facilitate better information sharing and greater access to relevant information, allowing our justice system to work more effectively and provide more benefits to the community it serves.
The first phase of this project is well advanced and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2021, and implementation will then occur in several stages.
The initial stage will focus on Criminal and Corrective Justice, followed by Civil Justice.
With the recent 2020-21 State Budget allocation of an additional $6m, the third proposed stage to connect our tribunals under one Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal will now be possible.
This is an exciting extension for the Astria digital solution that will deliver substantial benefit to those in the community who engage with our tribunals.
This significant piece of reform includes many initiatives aimed at reducing court backlogs, and I am confident they will do just that.
These changes will ensure the Supreme Court’s time is not unnecessarily used to deal with matters that could be more quickly and efficiently dealt with in the Magistrates Court.
In addition to these measures, we have provided for an additional magistrate and a seventh Supreme Court judge, and will soon be calling for expressions of interest for the latter position. The reappointment of our three acting judges for two years will also provide the Supreme Court with more flexibility to ensure we meet community expectations of timely access to justice.
Our bold reforms are not designed to be a quick fix, but rather provide a holistic solution that will serve the Tasmanian community for generations to come.
They are based on world’s best practice and will ensure that access to justice in Tasmania is nation-leading.