Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Courts COURTS The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS Legislative Council COURTS The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:40): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Leader of the Government a question about court registry closures in regional South Australia. Leave granted. The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS Legislative Council The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: I was recently contacted by a constituent at Coober Pedy who had been advised that the Coober Pedy courthouse registry would shortly be closed, along with those at Kadina, Ceduna and Naracoorte Magistrates Courts. My advice is that no-one has been consulted about the closures in the affected communities. Court registries will close from 1 August, meaning that full-time staff will have to find new roles elsewhere. Under the proposal, court staff would be flown in from Adelaide on court sitting days only. Unfortunately, this seems to be just another example of essential services being withdrawn from regional South Australia. My questions to the minister are: 1.	Was there any consultation in the local communities affected by the impending closures? 2.	Will the minister lobby to reverse these decisions and stop the jobs drain in regional South Australia? The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY Legislative Council Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (15:41): I thank the chairman of the SAJC select committee for his question. I will refer it to my colleague the Attorney and bring back a reply.