Crown Solicitor's Office

The Hon. T.T. NGO (14:47): My question is to the Attorney-General. Can the minister update the council on the fundraising activities of the Crown Solicitor's Office?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:47): I thank the honourable member for his question. It is a very good question in relation to the legal system in South Australia and particularly some of the efforts of the Crown Solicitor's Office, which of course fall under my areas of portfolio responsibility.

I am happy to be able to inform the chamber that the Crown Solicitor's Office has always been a great supporter of JusticeNet SA, which coordinates vital pro bono legal assistance for thousands of South Australians every year. JusticeNet SA organises fundraisers like the Walk for Justice, which I know many members of this chamber, across all the parties we have in this chamber, frequently attend.

There is a long-running tradition at the Crown Solicitor's Office of arranging an annual fundraising event for JusticeNet. COVID has unfortunately disrupted this event over the last couple of years, but I was very pleased to see its return and to attend in 2022. Once a year, the Crown Solicitor's Office organises an art show to raise funds for JusticeNet. It was a great pleasure to speak at the event this year on Friday 21 October and present the People's Choice Award.

The art show and competition in the Crown Solicitor's Office is an opportunity for solicitors and their staff, as well as other invited entrants, who might be more used to expressing themselves in written submissions and oral advocacy, to lay down their arms and express themselves with artistic endeavours. It was my great responsibility to award the People's Choice Award, which was tied between Sally Pfitzner for Wait and Matthew Boisseau for Peace in a Time of War. All of the works at the Crown Solicitor's art show raising vital funds for JusticeNet were of a very impressive standard and could take their place in many art shows or galleries, I think.

The Crown Solicitor's Office art show had outstanding work judged by Rhana Devenport, museum director, curator and editor; Stephanie Singh, an employee of the Director of Public Prosecutions and a well-known Aboriginal artist in her own right; and Roy Ananda, a South Australian artist, who judged for the best artwork of the show. The judges awarded runner-up prizes to Sharon Smith for the work Clelands, Jillian Dellit for Embellished Linen Bags and Sally Pfitzner for A bunch of.

The judges' award for the most outstanding artwork was awarded to Sarah Avey, a solicitor in the Crown Solicitor's Office for Lockdown, which was fitting for the first return of the art show post COVID. I congratulate all those who took part in the art show, and particularly for the spirit in which this art show raises funds each year for JusticeNet. I look forward to updating the chamber of future entrants, future winners and future endeavours of the Crown Solicitor's Office art show.