Victorians will have faster access to justice services and new ways to resolve disputes in an unprecedented $198.3 million justice package unveiled in the State Budget, the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General Rob Hulls said today.
Mr Hulls said that as part of the package, the Brumby Labor Government was taking action to develop and enhance innovative, low-cost dispute resolution, with a landmark $17.8 million for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) initiatives across the state.
The ADR funding includes a $5.8 million Magistrates’ Court intervention order mediation program; $3.7 million for judge-led mediation pilots for the Supreme and County Courts including one new judge for each court; $6.2 million for expanded dispute resolution services in regional areas across the state; and $1 million to further develop ADR initiatives.
“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to make Victoria the best place to live, work and raise a family. Providing alternative dispute resolution options, that can avoid the need for lengthy and costly court proceedings, is important to making this happen,” Mr Hulls said.
The justice package also includes $38 million to improve Supreme Court efficiency, provide more prosecutors, solicitors, three new Supreme Court judges and the ongoing funding of extra judges to support the Government’s crackdown on organised crime. It also provides for support staff, increased transcript capacity, prisoner transport and support for juries.
The Magistrates’ Court will receive $15.6 million over four years for additional security personnel and weapons screening. Courts in priority areas will be serviced first, with other Magistrates’ Courts across the state to receive a security upgrade over four years.
The Budget will tackle the increasing workload of the Children’s Court with $6.5 million for two new Magistrates, four registry staff and one assistant registry manager, and the use of additional court rooms for 12 months. This extra funding will also deliver new Children’s Court services at the Moorabbin Justice Centre.
“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to make our communities safer and to address increased demand on our courts,” Mr Hulls said.
The Brumby Labor Government will also continue its focus on sexual assault reform with $8million for a specialist sexual assault prosecution unit in Geelong, including prosecutors and solicitors, and video conferencing facilities in rural and regional Victoria.
The Budget provides $29.2 million to refurbish lower floors in the Old County Court providing six flexible courtroom spaces; and $21.4million to replace all analogue interview recording equipment at Victoria Police, Office of Public Prosecutions, and Victorian Government Reporting Service.
The Budget will also fund a $61.8 million upgrade of mortuary facilities and forensic services, including $38 million to rebuild the mortuary services building, extended forensic services, additional pathologists and the establishment of a world-first Victorian Coronial Council.
