Justice System

Mr ELLIS (Narungga) (14:14): My question is to the Attorney-General. Can the Attorney-General please update the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is supporting SA's recovery through critical infrastructure and economic stimulus for the justice sector?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (14:14): I am very happy to do so. I thank the member for Narungga for his question.

Mr Hughes interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Giles!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: In the current climate of COVID-19 and public health measures requiring the appropriate distancing, it has been imperative for the government to improve the audiovisual links within the justice system. In fact, I think every one of us has had to upgrade our skills in relation to everything from videoconferencing to communication during our meetings. So I am very pleased to inform the house that the government has committed $15 million to overhaul the audiovisual link technology within our justice system, that is, to connect our courts, police and corrections facilities.

Following the election, we made a commitment to investigate improved access to professional advisers by defendants and prisoners. This significant amount of money, as part of the stimulus package to get the economy back on track, has been presented in light of the COVID-19 circumstances. This infrastructure will assist in remote access to justice for defendants and prisoners and improve the safety measures for all personnel involved in justice proceedings. The package will be providing upgrades additional to AVL units in the Department for Correctional Services, the Courts Administration Authority and SA Police.

For our court system, the work has already commenced, with the new equipment installed and fully operational in the Youth Court. A further eight Magistrates Courts across the metropolitan area are expected to be upgraded by July. A second phase will involve upgrades in the Sir Samuel Way Building, some regional courts and replacement infrastructure, which supports the justice AVL network. Funding has also been allocated for 18 AVL units across the prison network. SAPOL also intends to purchase an additional 50 AVL units, mostly mobile units, to provide better and more flexible capability across their various service areas.

In the short term, these upgrades will assist in social distancing and continued operation of the system whilst the isolation conditions will be in place. In the longer term, it will greatly improve access to legal and other professional advisers for defendants and prisoners and reduce court processing and associated wait times. I could give you one example that is really important, and that is that police officers who wait around in courts to give their evidence can continue to operate in their work in their local offices and then go to the modem and actually deliver their evidence when called on.

To boost the economy, these works will support local employment and local business at a time of great need, with considerable involvement from local IT suppliers and local tradespeople. It's timely that this work also coincides with the recent launch of the electronic case management system in the civil jurisdiction. That enables civil matters to be lodged online without needing to attend the registry counters and is a helpful portal to practitioners and others who will use that service. So ECMS, online and operating well, and of course the AVL upgrades are a significant milestone.

COVID undoubtedly has advanced this. We are very proud to have been able to move quickly to do that, stimulate our economic base and provide a valuable and much-needed service to our police, courts and prisons, and of course to the clients who populate them.