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Court funding, Indigenous issues are top priorities for state election: NSW Bar
The NSW Bar Association has laid out a pre-election policy statement for the major parties, arguing that whoever is in government after the March poll must ensure proper funding and resourcing of courts and tribunals, as well as show genuine commitment to reducing rates of Indigenous incarceration.
Jerome Doraisamy
A “strong, independent and properly-resourced” court system is essential to the proper administration of justice in the state, NSW Bar argued.
“[We call] on all political parties to provide the necessary funding to our courts and tribunals to ensure that the justice system functions efficiently and that the benefits of the administration of justice are reasonably and equally available to all members of the community,” it wrote in its policy statement.
“The Bar Association is particularly concerned about the lack of resourcing and other support for the District Court and its judges. The lack of resources has resulted in long delays in matters being heard, which unacceptably impacts adversely on defendants, witnesses and victims of crime.”
There also needs to be genuine efforts by the next state government to address the “worsening problem” of Indigenous incarceration rates, NSW Bar continued.
In particular, the party in power must introduce specific sentencing legislation allowing courts to take into account unique systemic and background factors, revise bail laws to require authorities to consider cultural issues, repeal mandatory or presumptive sentencing regimes, expand culturally-appropriate community-based sentencing options, and abolish offences related to offensive language, among other suggestions.
NSW Bar also called for the next government to “redress the ongoing erosion of Legal Aid funding”, increase funding for diversionary and mental health programs in criminal law matters, enact a statutory bill of rights in the state, increase funding and resourcing of facilities for co-located family courts, restore fair compensation in personal injury matters, and recognise ADR as being integral to the administration of justice in the state.
“The NSW Bar Association is committed to policies which promote the proper administration of justice and represent fundamental legal principles,” it said in its statement.
“We recognise that it is essential that every member of the community is provided with the benefits of an independent, impartial and properly resourced justice system.”
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly. A former lawyer, he has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. He is also the host of all five shows under The Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network, and has overseen the brand's audio medium growth from 4,000 downloads per month to over 60,000 downloads per month, making The Lawyers Weekly Show the most popular industry-specific podcast in Australia. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of Minds Count.
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