Courts reach overload
Increasing demand stretches staff
THE number of cases finalised by the city’s busiest court grew by 770 cases over a three-year period, new court data shows.
In November alone, magistrates finished 624 cases in Geelong.
The increasing pressure on Geelong’s courts has had such an impact on the health and wellbeing of staff that Chief Magistrate Peter Kauritsen this week intervened.
He has cut sitting times back to a traditional 10amto-4pm period to reduce staff stress.
A Magistrates’ Court Victoria spokeswoman said workloads “in every court region” across the state were being assessed.
The State Government has attempted to address the bursting system through a $128.8 million Budget investment to increase court capacity by employing 18 new magistrates, two new County Court judges, and a new Supreme Court judge.
VICTORIA’S courts are so burdened court directors are assessing workloads in a bid to assist stretched court staff.
Data shows the number of cases finalised by the city’s busiest court grew by 770 cases over a three-year period.
While Magistrates’ Court of Victoria says a change in finalisation recording rules mean 2014-15 data cannot be accurately compared with 2015-16 data, statistics show magistrates finalised 335 more cases (4710) between July 2017 and March this year than they did in the same period the year prior (4375).
In November, magistrates finalised 624 cases in Geelong. The Geelong Koori Court, established in 2016, is also hearing more cases — with 76 heard between July-December last year compared with 63 over the same period in 2016.
While the increase is positive because it shows magis- trates are completing more cases, this pressure has impacted the wellbeing and health of staff to the point Chief Magistrate Peter Lauritsen this week intervened.
Mr Lauritsen moved to cut all sitting hours for Victorian Magistrates staff amid concerns long hours, created to cope with the bulging workload, were threatening their health and wellbeing. From June 1 courts will revert to traditional sitting times from 10am-4pm to cut staff stress.
The Law Institute of Victoria said workloads, backlogs and pressure was so immense it “impacts on our lawyers and our judicial officers”.
The State Government has tried to address the bursting system through a $128.8 million state Budget investment to increase court capacity by employing 18 magistrates, two County Court judges and a Supreme Court judge.
Attorney-General Martin Pakula said this investment acknowledged the impact a beefed police presence was having on courts.
“We recognise that our record investment in new police officers and tougher bail, sentencing and parole laws mean that more people are coming before the justice system and being held to account,” Mr Pakula said.
“We’re also providing a further $118.8 million for more police prosecutors and to support the work of the Office of Public Prosecutions, and another $37.3 million for more legal aid services.”
Victoria Legal Aid managing director Bevan Warner said the court could only be a positive intervention if there was “time and space for individualised” justice.
The state’s shadow attorney-general has expressed his doubts.
“The Government’s fourth Budget shows court costs and delays have blown out, proving this Government can’t be trusted to manage the justice system,” John Pesutto said.