❓ Question regarding the costs of GPS tracking for post-sentence supervision orders and funding for Legal Aid WA to handle complex criminal trials. The Attorney General provides information on the status of the GPS tracking initiative and Legal Aid WA's funding mechanisms for expensive cases.
AnsweredQoN 700Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
POST-SENTENCE SUPERVISION ORDERS — GPS TRACKING
700. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
Attorney General:
(1) What are
the costs in this financial year, and in the forward estimates up to 2016–17,
for the introduction of GPS tracking of post-sentence supervision orders, as
announced in the budget?
(2) What are
the spending changes that enable Legal Aid WA to handle the greater number of
indictable matters and the increasing number of complex and lengthy criminal
trials, as noted in the budget papers?
(3) Why are
there allocations in neither this year's budget nor the forward
estimates under ''expensive cases—Legal Aid''?
700. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
Attorney General:
(1) What are
the costs in this financial year, and in the forward estimates up to 2016–17,
for the introduction of GPS tracking of post-sentence supervision orders, as
announced in the budget?
(2) What are
the spending changes that enable Legal Aid WA to handle the greater number of
indictable matters and the increasing number of complex and lengthy criminal
trials, as noted in the budget papers?
(3) Why are
there allocations in neither this year's budget nor the forward
estimates under ''expensive cases—Legal Aid''?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question.
(1) New
legislation for the introduction of post-sentence supervision orders is still
being developed, and costings for GPS tracking will not be finalised until the
bill is more advanced.
(2)–(3)
There are no specific spending changes in the Legal Aid WA budget for 2013–14
to reflect a general trend towards increasing complexity in criminal matters that
proceed to trial. As alluded to by the member in (3), Legal Aid WA has access
to additional funding on an annual basis for matters that fall within the
definition of ''expensive cases''. For the current year, an
expensive case is one in which the cost of representation exceeds $26 000. This
ensures that persons requiring representation for the most serious and complex
matters in the superior courts are able to be provided with an appropriate
level of representation. In relation to expensive cases funding for 2013–14,
the government has allocated a provisional amount of $1 million within the
general state allocation for Legal Aid WA. In the event that the total cost of
expensive cases exceeds $1 million in 2013–14, Legal Aid WA will be
provided with supplementary funding to cover this additional amount. This is a
longstanding practice of the Western Australian government and will continue
for the foreseeable future.
question.
(1) New
legislation for the introduction of post-sentence supervision orders is still
being developed, and costings for GPS tracking will not be finalised until the
bill is more advanced.
(2)–(3)
There are no specific spending changes in the Legal Aid WA budget for 2013–14
to reflect a general trend towards increasing complexity in criminal matters that
proceed to trial. As alluded to by the member in (3), Legal Aid WA has access
to additional funding on an annual basis for matters that fall within the
definition of ''expensive cases''. For the current year, an
expensive case is one in which the cost of representation exceeds $26 000. This
ensures that persons requiring representation for the most serious and complex
matters in the superior courts are able to be provided with an appropriate
level of representation. In relation to expensive cases funding for 2013–14,
the government has allocated a provisional amount of $1 million within the
general state allocation for Legal Aid WA. In the event that the total cost of
expensive cases exceeds $1 million in 2013–14, Legal Aid WA will be
provided with supplementary funding to cover this additional amount. This is a
longstanding practice of the Western Australian government and will continue
for the foreseeable future.
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