Ministerial Statement

JUSTICE SYSTEM

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON (Croydon—Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:06): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: The Premier and I today have announced a $48.1 million package over four years to speed up the state's court system and to deliver swifter justice for all. The South Australian government will be reopening the Sturt Street justice precinct as dedicated criminal courts. We are also increasing funding to have more than double the number of Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions staff since the Rann government took office. The new courts will be presided over by extra judges. There will be an upgrading of existing courts and more resources to forensic science.

This government has been elected, and re-elected, on a pledge to be tough on crime, and it has been. Dozens upon dozens of reforms to the criminal law have been made by the parliament, and that has led to a big jump in prosecutions and more prisoners than ever behind bars. Owing to the government's pledge, more cases are now before our courts, and the huge investment in police, innovative lawmaking and the exposure of crimes (especially against children) is having a real effect. The package announced today is practical and immediate action to fast-track justice in this state.

The cornerstone of the government's strategy is the reopening and modernisation of the Sturt Street justice precinct at a cost of $18.9 million over the next four years. The centrally located courts feature two court rooms, three cells, two jury rooms, interview rooms and ample space for prosecution and defence lawyers, witnesses and victims, and court administrators. The courthouse has been hired out to other uses for about 15 years. We are giving it a fresh lease on life. After a major refurbishment, the precinct will be a comfortable, practical and well-resourced platform to tackle the state's backlog of criminal cases. Indeed, in the total cost is a $3.2 million renovation that will see the building fitted out with modern technology, disabled access, security devices and other features by late 2009.

Along with other measures, the precinct is expected to minimise waiting times in the state's higher courts. Over five years it is projected that the two extra courtrooms will hear about 300 trials, quickly and efficiently cutting the backlog and helping to prevent further delays in case listing. The $18.9 million package also includes:

$11.1 million for three extra judges and 12 more court staff. The first new judge will start this year.

$2.8 million for five extra full-time prosecutors, plus 2½ support staff.

$1.8 million for extra Legal Services Commission lawyers and support staff.

On top of the Sturt Street allocation I have just outlined, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions will receive another $7.5 million.

When I took office as Attorney-General, a former member of the Olsen Liberal government told me that I should look at the funding for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions because, in his words, 'that office is running on the smell of an oily rag' under the Liberal government. Year on year we have steadily increased resources to the office. Today I can tell the house that the ODPP staff levels will rocket from 70 in 2002-03 to 148 in 2009-10. That is more than double the level since the Rann government came to office—that is more than double. This includes new funding of $5.3 million, plus $2.2 million for the response to the Mullighan inquiry. Extra staff positions have already been funded to deal with the work created by firearms reforms and the arsenal of laws to tackle the criminal bikie gangs. In the next four years 36 extra full-time staff will join the office of the DPP—and about 24 of those will be prosecutors. More prosecutors mean cases can be dealt with more thoroughly and quickly. More importantly, this means less stress on witnesses and victims.

On top of the pledge of $1.8 million to the Legal Services Commission as part of the Sturt Street package, we have also announced an additional $8.3 million. Dealing with one part of the criminal justice system can place pressure on other parts, so when the tide comes in it lifts all boats. Along with record funding of the office of the DPP, disadvantaged defendants will have greater access to justice with a 50 per cent boost for funding in the Legal Services Commission since the Rann government came to office. This is in addition to extra positions that have already been funded to deal with cases generated by the firearms legislation and the anti-criminal bikie reforms. Representation for accused people means swifter justice for all.

Some $3.1 million will be devoted to faster forensic services. This will pay for a pathology registrar, a laboratory technician and two support staff to deal with the backlog of cases. This fast-tracking of cases will help to not only resolve criminal cases faster but also speed up the process to relieve those waiting on coronial findings.

More funds are also being allocated to improve security, information technology and reporting services in our courts, with upgrades to the tune of $4.2 million. Court reporting equipment will move from analogue to digital, which will reduce courtroom disruption and improve reliability. Information technology and electronic security systems will also be replaced in city and country courts—because this is a government for the regions with two ministers from the regions.

Today's measures will drastically reduce the backlog of cases, delivering swifter justice for victims and their families and putting more offenders behind bars sooner rather than later. Today's announcement comes on top of recent pledges of:

$5.3 million to cut the DNA backlog. Eighteen extra scientists, technical and support staff will be appointed to slash the backlog of analysis of DNA evidence.

$520,000 to recruit more Aboriginal language interpreters and prevent delays owing to language barriers.

$35.9 million to provide a further 209 new spaces in our prisons to manage unprecedented prisoner numbers.