❓ The question addresses the closure of 34 regional court locations due to WA Police Force's inability to guarantee security, asking about government plans to restore sittings and allocate additional officers. The answer outlines funding for expanded contracted security and the employment of 20 additional Police Auxiliary Officers (PAOs) to reopen circuit courts.
AnsweredQoN 507Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Court security—Regional and remote court closures
507. Hon Michelle Boylan to the parliamentary
secretary representing the Attorney General:
I refer to the
closure of 34 regional court locations from 1 June to 28 August 2026 because WA
Police Force cannot guarantee court security.
(1) What is the government doing to
restore the court sittings to those 34 locations before 1 September 2026?
(2) How many additional officers will be
allocated to regional court security to ensure this does not happen again?
507. Hon Michelle Boylan to the parliamentary
secretary representing the Attorney General:
I refer to the
closure of 34 regional court locations from 1 June to 28 August 2026 because WA
Police Force cannot guarantee court security.
(1) What is the government doing to
restore the court sittings to those 34 locations before 1 September 2026?
(2) How many additional officers will be
allocated to regional court security to ensure this does not happen again?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) The Cook Labor government's focus is on
keeping Western Australia's regional communities safe and ensuring timely
access to justice. The government has already funded $6.2 million to expand
contracted court security at key regional locations. The Cook Labor government
has also invested $4 million and employed 20 additional police auxiliary
officers to provide court security and custodial services at regional and
remote courts. Once these PAOs are on board in the coming months the circuit
courts that are temporarily closed are expected to reopen.
for some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) The Cook Labor government's focus is on
keeping Western Australia's regional communities safe and ensuring timely
access to justice. The government has already funded $6.2 million to expand
contracted court security at key regional locations. The Cook Labor government
has also invested $4 million and employed 20 additional police auxiliary
officers to provide court security and custodial services at regional and
remote courts. Once these PAOs are on board in the coming months the circuit
courts that are temporarily closed are expected to reopen.
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