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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-09-28 Daily Xml
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Sentencing

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (14:38): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Attorney-General regarding delays in sentencing in South Australia.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: Last year, an offender from South Plympton pleaded guilty to seven charges, ranging from possessing and distributing extremist material to possessing documents that could be used for a terrorist attack, for offences committed between 14 January and 16 March in that year. In June this year, the District Court heard that, while in custody, the offender allegedly used a knife and sharpened toothbrush in violent incidents and had drawn ISIS-themed pictures. The court was asked to postpone his sentencing due to the need for him to be reassessed by a forensic psychologist. In response, the judge stated:

The defendant was committed to this court…last year, he appeared in this court in February, it was adjourned, now we're halfway through June…This court is becoming frustrated through lengthy delays by psychologists taking such a long time to prepare their reports…It's not infrequent now that somebody who gets committed to this court is not sentenced for somewhere between six and 12 months…That never used to be the case.

My question to the Attorney-General is: is the Attorney concerned that the delivery of justice is taking so long in South Australia that even District Court judges are publicly expressing their frustration, and, if not, why not?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:40): I thank the honourable member for his question and his constant interest in the area of keeping South Australians as safe as they possibly can be. In relation to the honourable member's question referring to the length of time for reports of psychiatrists to be provided to court, it is not something that has been raised directly with me; however, I will follow it up.

I do know that in a whole range of areas, and that includes various courts and tribunals, the provision of reports from those that provide professional services has been difficult over the last few years. There have been general workforce shortages in a whole range of areas, compounded by the interruption of COVID. I know a number of areas have had shortages in qualified people to provide a whole range of services, I expect including providing reports. I will follow that up for the honourable member.

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