Courts Administration Authority

63 The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (25 October 2018). Can the Attorney-General advise:

1. What areas in the Courts Administration Authority are the $8 million savings coming from?

2. What process is being undertaken to identify those savings?

3. When will this process be complete?

4. Whether the Attorney-General will guarantee that additional delays in access to justice will not be experienced as a result of these savings?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer): The Attorney-General has provided the following advice:

1. The next two judicial vacancies which are proposed to be replaced by judicial registrars are 20 March 2020 and 9 February 2021.

2. Two.

3. A magistrates salary is set by the Remuneration Tribunal and are therefore publicly available.

4. The cost of supporting a magistrate is approximately $194,000 p.a. The costs of supporting a judicial registrar are similar.

5. This is yet to be determined as no judicial registrars have been appointed to date. The act requires that their remuneration be determined by the Governor with the concurrence of the chief magistrate.

6. Refer to 4.

7. Refer to the Magistrates Act 1983.

8. The appointment process is yet to be determined.

9. Subject to the regulations, judicial registrars may exercise such jurisdiction of the court as assigned by the chief magistrate or the rules. It is anticipated that judicial registrars will be used to preside over uncomplicated matters and interlocutory proceedings.

10. The use of judicial registrars will free up magistrates' time to focus on more complex matters. It is unlikely to have any noticeable impact on the time to finalise cases.