Court Judgement Delays

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:17): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Attorney-General regarding the South Australian courts.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: The opposition has been approached by a well-known South Australian lawyer, who has expressed concern about the variance in time taken for judgements in the South Australian courts, that is, depending on the particular judicial officer that a matter appears before. Some matters are dealt with expeditiously and some are dealt with, in their words, somewhat less expeditiously. Would the Attorney like to make a comment on that and does the government have a plan in place to reform the situation?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Attorney-General, do you need the Hon. Mr Wortley's assistance to answer that?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:18): He is very helpful some of the time, sir. I thank the honourable member for his question. It is a little difficult to answer, not knowing who the lawyer is, which jurisdictions they are talking about, which judges, magistrates or justices are being talked about, or what the matters are. It is a little difficult to answer, but I do congratulate the Hon. Dennis Hood, because when the Liberal opposition is flailing it is always he who comes to the rescue. They are all at sea, but he is the only one agile enough in this place—it is little wonder we saw the motion passed that we saw passed yesterday.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! I can't hear. Both sides, order! The Hon. Mr Wortley!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: It is little wonder we saw the passage of a no-confidence motion in the opposition yesterday.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: It is little wonder, after what we have seen here today. If the Hon. Dennis Hood was leader we probably wouldn't have seen a no-confidence motion in the opposition yesterday. In relation to his question, as I said, it is difficult without knowing any of the circumstances, but he has shown how agile he is and what a great performer he is in this chamber by coming up with the question after all his colleagues had run out. Certainly, there will be factors at play depending on what judgements are reserved, depending on a particular judicial officer, the trial load at the time and what they are doing. So I am certain there will be differences in times taken, for a whole range of factors.