Dubbo Courthouse. Image credit: Google Maps.

For two houses on Wednesday (17 July) morning, the sheriffs in 44 NSW courthouses will stop work to protest poor pay and a staffing crisis in a move expected to “severely disrupt” the justice system.

In addition to providing court security, the sheriffs enforce writs and serve warrants and property seizure orders under the Fines Act 1996 across the local, district, supreme, and federal courts.

Stewart Little, general secretary of the Public Service Association, said sheriffs were told a 2023 review into their pay would be resolved this year, but there was no indication of this in the state budget.

“In 2023, there was a review of sheriff’s pay, but the report was never released under ‘cabinet in confidence’,” Little said.

“Now they’ve been fobbed off again with some other made-up bureaucratic process, so the sheriffs have just had enough.”

The protest will affect courts in Bourke, Cobar, Nyngan, Warren, Narromine, Wellington, Rylstone, Mudgee, Gulgong, Dunedoo, Gilgandra, Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Lightning Ridge, Walgett, and Brewarrina.

The Office of the Sheriff said it has had difficulty recruiting and retaining any staff due to the poor pay.

Little added that the sheriffs are expected to do “stressful” and “dangerous” work and should be compensated appropriately.

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“When enforcing court orders, they’ll be entering people’s properties wearing stab-proof vests, carrying capsicum spray, batons and handcuffs. It’s difficult work,” Little said.

“Sheriffs put their lives on the line in courthouses and to make sure judges, lawyers and members of the public are safe from crooks and criminals, yet they are paid the same as people with desk jobs and administration roles at the courthouse.

“It’s just not on.”

Naomi Neilson

Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly. 

You can email Naomi at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.