Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Court Registry Closures COURT REGISTRY CLOSURES The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS Legislative Council COURT REGISTRY CLOSURES The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:07): I seek leave— The Hon. B.V. Finnigan Legislative Council The Hon. B.V. Finnigan: The most inspiring member in the place. The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS Legislative Council The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: Mr President, please give me protection from the lump of lard on the other side. The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS Legislative Council The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Leader of the Government, representing the Minister for Justice, questions about the closure of regional court registries. Leave granted. The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS Legislative Council The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: Earlier this year I asked a question about upcoming closures of court registries in Coober Pedy and other regional areas. September 24 was the last day the Kadina and Coober Pedy court registries stayed open when the court was not sitting, and 25 September was the last day for the Ceduna Registry .	The Courts Administration Authority has argued that the registries were the least busy in the state. Fear not, however, as evidently consultants are now available on a part-time basis. Part-time Aboriginal justice officers (AJOs) will continue to visit these towns instead of full-time staff. The mayor of Ceduna recently commented that this is unacceptable and argues that it is not how Aboriginal people do business. The mayor states: They historically had access to the registry staff when required and they simply go into the office and transact their business. They don't run to a program of appointments and to suggest that it will be properly covered that way is just ludicrous. My questions to the minister are: 1.	Does the government believe sufficient time was given to consult local communities about these closures? 2.	Is the minister certain that these part-time AJOs will be able to offer locals the same level of service they received previously? 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) (15:09): I will refer the honourable member's question to the Minister for Justice in another place and bring back a reply.