❓ Dr. Buti questions the Minister for Police regarding the limited use of the new Magistrates Court at the Perth police centre and whether this constitutes a broken election promise regarding increased court availability. The Minister acknowledges the issue and states the government is working to fulfill its commitments.
AnsweredQoN 585Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE —
COURT SITTINGS
585. Dr A.D. BUTI to the Minister for Police:
I refer to revelations yesterday that the new Magistrates
Court inside the new $93 million Perth police centre is sitting idle for six
and a half days a week.
(1) Can the Minister for Police confirm that the court sits
only on Saturday morning?
(2) If this is
the case, how does this reconcile with the government's election
commitment that a Liberal government will make sure that offenders can be dealt
with more rapidly?
(3) Given the
election pledge that courts will be sitting nights and on Sunday, is this not
just another broken promise?
COURT SITTINGS
585. Dr A.D. BUTI to the Minister for Police:
I refer to revelations yesterday that the new Magistrates
Court inside the new $93 million Perth police centre is sitting idle for six
and a half days a week.
(1) Can the Minister for Police confirm that the court sits
only on Saturday morning?
(2) If this is
the case, how does this reconcile with the government's election
commitment that a Liberal government will make sure that offenders can be dealt
with more rapidly?
(3) Given the
election pledge that courts will be sitting nights and on Sunday, is this not
just another broken promise?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Armadale for this question.
(1)–(3)
I understand that the court at the new police complex sits at the same times as
the courts sat at the old East Perth station, so there has not been any
reduction in the number of court days available through that police complex.
What we are in the process of doing at the moment in the new $93 million
Northbridge police facility is to have the courts open seven days a week.
Indeed, the member for Armadale is correct to mention the government's
commitments for night court and the additional sitting days over weekends. That
will come online in due course.
Dr A.D. Buti :
When?
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : I
am trying to answer the member for Armadale's question. We are in the
process at the moment of negotiating contracts for the custodial and security
requirements of those courts, and the Attorney General is working with the
Chief Justice to ensure that magistrates are available to work in the courts.
It is taking time to work through those contractual arrangements, and when
those contractual arrangements are complete, over the four-year period of this
government, we will meet all our election commitments regarding that facility.
(1)–(3)
I understand that the court at the new police complex sits at the same times as
the courts sat at the old East Perth station, so there has not been any
reduction in the number of court days available through that police complex.
What we are in the process of doing at the moment in the new $93 million
Northbridge police facility is to have the courts open seven days a week.
Indeed, the member for Armadale is correct to mention the government's
commitments for night court and the additional sitting days over weekends. That
will come online in due course.
Dr A.D. Buti :
When?
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : I
am trying to answer the member for Armadale's question. We are in the
process at the moment of negotiating contracts for the custodial and security
requirements of those courts, and the Attorney General is working with the
Chief Justice to ensure that magistrates are available to work in the courts.
It is taking time to work through those contractual arrangements, and when
those contractual arrangements are complete, over the four-year period of this
government, we will meet all our election commitments regarding that facility.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.