COURT ORDER COSTS

In reply to Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (4 July 2011) (Estimates Committee B).

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Business Services and Consumers): I refer to your Estimates Committee B question taken on notice of 8 October 2010, about whether the Government was looking at changing the Summary Offences Act, as recommended by the Sustainable Budget Commission, 'to clearly define circumstances in which costs can be awarded to acquitted persons to reimburse them for reasonable costs of professional representation'?

I advise that the Government is currently not considering any further amendments to the Summary Offences Act that include criteria to be considered by a Court when determining an order for costs against an unsuccessful party in criminal litigation.