❓ Mr. Bradshaw questions the closure of the Pinjarra courthouse and its impact on services, contrasting it with the government's decentralisation pledge. Mr. McGinty confirms the closure but indicates potential for the courthouse to remain open as a licensing centre.
AnsweredQoN 339Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to his election policy “a fair go for regional WA”, which pledges that a Labor Government will ensure that infrastructure and services in regional Western Australia will be maintained and enhanced. (1) Does the Government intend to close the Pinjarra courthouse, which will result in the transfer of court proceedings to Mandurah, an end to drivers licence testing in Pinjarra and the loss of services for payment of motor vehicle licensing at the Pinjarra courthouse? (2) If yes to (1), how does the minister reconcile this move to decimate services in Pinjarra with the Government’s pre-election pledge to decentralise services? (3) As the Minister for Peel and the South West, does he support regionalisation and contracting services into Mandurah as against representing the whole region? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) The Pinjarra courthouse will close on 31 December this year. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: That is disgraceful. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The reasons are that an examination of the work done through the courthouse in recent years has indicated that the number of criminal lodgments has remained stationary in the past three years and the number of civil lodgments has declined. The closure will effect a saving of $100 000 to the Department of Justice’s budget. It is important to note that the magistrate who sits at the Pinjarra courthouse goes there once every two months for one day. In addition, the court sits generally about once a week, sometimes a little more to deal with urgent restraining order applications. As the member indicated, about 70 per cent of the workload of the court relates to licensing functions for the Department for Planning and Infrastructure. We have entered into discussions, the outcome of which I will advise the member in a minute. The staff at the courthouse, employed to do what I am sure everybody would agree is a minimal amount of court-related work, are 2.2 full-time equivalents - a clerk of courts, a court officer and a cleaner. Both the clerk of courts and court officer positions will be abolished. In weighing up the matter over the course of this year, we took into account the fact that Mandurah is 19 kilometres from Pinjarra. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: It has no public transport. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I appreciate the point made by the member for Murray-Wellington that there is no public transport between Mandurah and Pinjarra, which was a factor that weighed heavily the other way. The Mandurah court opened in 1988 and has very good facilities. The Pinjarra court opened in 1935 and is substantially deficient, and on that constrained site there is minimal opportunity for any improved facility at that building. An important matter that I would like to note is that as late as today officers of the Department of Justice have been meeting with officers of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the strong indications are that the courthouse will remain open, not as a courthouse but as a licensing centre. Although it is not yet guaranteed, it is the intention, arising from the meeting that took place this morning, that the use of the courthouse and the licensing function will continue in Pinjarra. In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
(1) Does the Government intend to close the Pinjarra courthouse, which will result in the transfer of court proceedings to Mandurah, an end to drivers licence testing in Pinjarra and the loss of services for payment of motor vehicle licensing at the Pinjarra courthouse? (2) If yes to (1), how does the minister reconcile this move to decimate services in Pinjarra with the Government’s pre-election pledge to decentralise services? (3) As the Minister for Peel and the South West, does he support regionalisation and contracting services into Mandurah as against representing the whole region? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The Pinjarra courthouse will close on 31 December this year. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: That is disgraceful. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The reasons are that an examination of the work done through the courthouse in recent years has indicated that the number of criminal lodgments has remained stationary in the past three years and the number of civil lodgments has declined. The closure will effect a saving of $100 000 to the Department of Justice’s budget. It is important to note that the magistrate who sits at the Pinjarra courthouse goes there once every two months for one day. In addition, the court sits generally about once a week, sometimes a little more to deal with urgent restraining order applications. As the member indicated, about 70 per cent of the workload of the court relates to licensing functions for the Department for Planning and Infrastructure. We have entered into discussions, the outcome of which I will advise the member in a minute. The staff at the courthouse, employed to do what I am sure everybody would agree is a minimal amount of court-related work, are 2.2 full-time equivalents - a clerk of courts, a court officer and a cleaner. Both the clerk of courts and court officer positions will be abolished. In weighing up the matter over the course of this year, we took into account the fact that Mandurah is 19 kilometres from Pinjarra. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: It has no public transport. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I appreciate the point made by the member for Murray-Wellington that there is no public transport between Mandurah and Pinjarra, which was a factor that weighed heavily the other way. The Mandurah court opened in 1988 and has very good facilities. The Pinjarra court opened in 1935 and is substantially deficient, and on that constrained site there is minimal opportunity for any improved facility at that building. An important matter that I would like to note is that as late as today officers of the Department of Justice have been meeting with officers of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the strong indications are that the courthouse will remain open, not as a courthouse but as a licensing centre. Although it is not yet guaranteed, it is the intention, arising from the meeting that took place this morning, that the use of the courthouse and the licensing function will continue in Pinjarra. In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
(2) If yes to (1), how does the minister reconcile this move to decimate services in Pinjarra with the Government’s pre-election pledge to decentralise services? (3) As the Minister for Peel and the South West, does he support regionalisation and contracting services into Mandurah as against representing the whole region? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The Pinjarra courthouse will close on 31 December this year. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: That is disgraceful. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The reasons are that an examination of the work done through the courthouse in recent years has indicated that the number of criminal lodgments has remained stationary in the past three years and the number of civil lodgments has declined. The closure will effect a saving of $100 000 to the Department of Justice’s budget. It is important to note that the magistrate who sits at the Pinjarra courthouse goes there once every two months for one day. In addition, the court sits generally about once a week, sometimes a little more to deal with urgent restraining order applications. As the member indicated, about 70 per cent of the workload of the court relates to licensing functions for the Department for Planning and Infrastructure. We have entered into discussions, the outcome of which I will advise the member in a minute. The staff at the courthouse, employed to do what I am sure everybody would agree is a minimal amount of court-related work, are 2.2 full-time equivalents - a clerk of courts, a court officer and a cleaner. Both the clerk of courts and court officer positions will be abolished. In weighing up the matter over the course of this year, we took into account the fact that Mandurah is 19 kilometres from Pinjarra. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: It has no public transport. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I appreciate the point made by the member for Murray-Wellington that there is no public transport between Mandurah and Pinjarra, which was a factor that weighed heavily the other way. The Mandurah court opened in 1988 and has very good facilities. The Pinjarra court opened in 1935 and is substantially deficient, and on that constrained site there is minimal opportunity for any improved facility at that building. An important matter that I would like to note is that as late as today officers of the Department of Justice have been meeting with officers of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the strong indications are that the courthouse will remain open, not as a courthouse but as a licensing centre. Although it is not yet guaranteed, it is the intention, arising from the meeting that took place this morning, that the use of the courthouse and the licensing function will continue in Pinjarra. In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
(3) As the Minister for Peel and the South West, does he support regionalisation and contracting services into Mandurah as against representing the whole region? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The Pinjarra courthouse will close on 31 December this year. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: That is disgraceful. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The reasons are that an examination of the work done through the courthouse in recent years has indicated that the number of criminal lodgments has remained stationary in the past three years and the number of civil lodgments has declined. The closure will effect a saving of $100 000 to the Department of Justice’s budget. It is important to note that the magistrate who sits at the Pinjarra courthouse goes there once every two months for one day. In addition, the court sits generally about once a week, sometimes a little more to deal with urgent restraining order applications. As the member indicated, about 70 per cent of the workload of the court relates to licensing functions for the Department for Planning and Infrastructure. We have entered into discussions, the outcome of which I will advise the member in a minute. The staff at the courthouse, employed to do what I am sure everybody would agree is a minimal amount of court-related work, are 2.2 full-time equivalents - a clerk of courts, a court officer and a cleaner. Both the clerk of courts and court officer positions will be abolished. In weighing up the matter over the course of this year, we took into account the fact that Mandurah is 19 kilometres from Pinjarra. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: It has no public transport. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I appreciate the point made by the member for Murray-Wellington that there is no public transport between Mandurah and Pinjarra, which was a factor that weighed heavily the other way. The Mandurah court opened in 1988 and has very good facilities. The Pinjarra court opened in 1935 and is substantially deficient, and on that constrained site there is minimal opportunity for any improved facility at that building. An important matter that I would like to note is that as late as today officers of the Department of Justice have been meeting with officers of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the strong indications are that the courthouse will remain open, not as a courthouse but as a licensing centre. Although it is not yet guaranteed, it is the intention, arising from the meeting that took place this morning, that the use of the courthouse and the licensing function will continue in Pinjarra. In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The Pinjarra courthouse will close on 31 December this year. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: That is disgraceful. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The reasons are that an examination of the work done through the courthouse in recent years has indicated that the number of criminal lodgments has remained stationary in the past three years and the number of civil lodgments has declined. The closure will effect a saving of $100 000 to the Department of Justice’s budget. It is important to note that the magistrate who sits at the Pinjarra courthouse goes there once every two months for one day. In addition, the court sits generally about once a week, sometimes a little more to deal with urgent restraining order applications. As the member indicated, about 70 per cent of the workload of the court relates to licensing functions for the Department for Planning and Infrastructure. We have entered into discussions, the outcome of which I will advise the member in a minute. The staff at the courthouse, employed to do what I am sure everybody would agree is a minimal amount of court-related work, are 2.2 full-time equivalents - a clerk of courts, a court officer and a cleaner. Both the clerk of courts and court officer positions will be abolished. In weighing up the matter over the course of this year, we took into account the fact that Mandurah is 19 kilometres from Pinjarra. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: It has no public transport. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I appreciate the point made by the member for Murray-Wellington that there is no public transport between Mandurah and Pinjarra, which was a factor that weighed heavily the other way. The Mandurah court opened in 1988 and has very good facilities. The Pinjarra court opened in 1935 and is substantially deficient, and on that constrained site there is minimal opportunity for any improved facility at that building. An important matter that I would like to note is that as late as today officers of the Department of Justice have been meeting with officers of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the strong indications are that the courthouse will remain open, not as a courthouse but as a licensing centre. Although it is not yet guaranteed, it is the intention, arising from the meeting that took place this morning, that the use of the courthouse and the licensing function will continue in Pinjarra. In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
(1)-(3) The Pinjarra courthouse will close on 31 December this year. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: That is disgraceful. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The reasons are that an examination of the work done through the courthouse in recent years has indicated that the number of criminal lodgments has remained stationary in the past three years and the number of civil lodgments has declined. The closure will effect a saving of $100 000 to the Department of Justice’s budget. It is important to note that the magistrate who sits at the Pinjarra courthouse goes there once every two months for one day. In addition, the court sits generally about once a week, sometimes a little more to deal with urgent restraining order applications. As the member indicated, about 70 per cent of the workload of the court relates to licensing functions for the Department for Planning and Infrastructure. We have entered into discussions, the outcome of which I will advise the member in a minute. The staff at the courthouse, employed to do what I am sure everybody would agree is a minimal amount of court-related work, are 2.2 full-time equivalents - a clerk of courts, a court officer and a cleaner. Both the clerk of courts and court officer positions will be abolished. In weighing up the matter over the course of this year, we took into account the fact that Mandurah is 19 kilometres from Pinjarra. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: It has no public transport. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I appreciate the point made by the member for Murray-Wellington that there is no public transport between Mandurah and Pinjarra, which was a factor that weighed heavily the other way. The Mandurah court opened in 1988 and has very good facilities. The Pinjarra court opened in 1935 and is substantially deficient, and on that constrained site there is minimal opportunity for any improved facility at that building. An important matter that I would like to note is that as late as today officers of the Department of Justice have been meeting with officers of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the strong indications are that the courthouse will remain open, not as a courthouse but as a licensing centre. Although it is not yet guaranteed, it is the intention, arising from the meeting that took place this morning, that the use of the courthouse and the licensing function will continue in Pinjarra. In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
Mr J.L. Bradshaw: That is disgraceful. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The reasons are that an examination of the work done through the courthouse in recent years has indicated that the number of criminal lodgments has remained stationary in the past three years and the number of civil lodgments has declined. The closure will effect a saving of $100 000 to the Department of Justice’s budget. It is important to note that the magistrate who sits at the Pinjarra courthouse goes there once every two months for one day. In addition, the court sits generally about once a week, sometimes a little more to deal with urgent restraining order applications. As the member indicated, about 70 per cent of the workload of the court relates to licensing functions for the Department for Planning and Infrastructure. We have entered into discussions, the outcome of which I will advise the member in a minute. The staff at the courthouse, employed to do what I am sure everybody would agree is a minimal amount of court-related work, are 2.2 full-time equivalents - a clerk of courts, a court officer and a cleaner. Both the clerk of courts and court officer positions will be abolished. In weighing up the matter over the course of this year, we took into account the fact that Mandurah is 19 kilometres from Pinjarra. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: It has no public transport. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I appreciate the point made by the member for Murray-Wellington that there is no public transport between Mandurah and Pinjarra, which was a factor that weighed heavily the other way. The Mandurah court opened in 1988 and has very good facilities. The Pinjarra court opened in 1935 and is substantially deficient, and on that constrained site there is minimal opportunity for any improved facility at that building. An important matter that I would like to note is that as late as today officers of the Department of Justice have been meeting with officers of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the strong indications are that the courthouse will remain open, not as a courthouse but as a licensing centre. Although it is not yet guaranteed, it is the intention, arising from the meeting that took place this morning, that the use of the courthouse and the licensing function will continue in Pinjarra. In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: The reasons are that an examination of the work done through the courthouse in recent years has indicated that the number of criminal lodgments has remained stationary in the past three years and the number of civil lodgments has declined. The closure will effect a saving of $100 000 to the Department of Justice’s budget. It is important to note that the magistrate who sits at the Pinjarra courthouse goes there once every two months for one day. In addition, the court sits generally about once a week, sometimes a little more to deal with urgent restraining order applications. As the member indicated, about 70 per cent of the workload of the court relates to licensing functions for the Department for Planning and Infrastructure. We have entered into discussions, the outcome of which I will advise the member in a minute. The staff at the courthouse, employed to do what I am sure everybody would agree is a minimal amount of court-related work, are 2.2 full-time equivalents - a clerk of courts, a court officer and a cleaner. Both the clerk of courts and court officer positions will be abolished. In weighing up the matter over the course of this year, we took into account the fact that Mandurah is 19 kilometres from Pinjarra. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: It has no public transport. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I appreciate the point made by the member for Murray-Wellington that there is no public transport between Mandurah and Pinjarra, which was a factor that weighed heavily the other way. The Mandurah court opened in 1988 and has very good facilities. The Pinjarra court opened in 1935 and is substantially deficient, and on that constrained site there is minimal opportunity for any improved facility at that building. An important matter that I would like to note is that as late as today officers of the Department of Justice have been meeting with officers of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the strong indications are that the courthouse will remain open, not as a courthouse but as a licensing centre. Although it is not yet guaranteed, it is the intention, arising from the meeting that took place this morning, that the use of the courthouse and the licensing function will continue in Pinjarra. In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
It is important to note that the magistrate who sits at the Pinjarra courthouse goes there once every two months for one day. In addition, the court sits generally about once a week, sometimes a little more to deal with urgent restraining order applications. As the member indicated, about 70 per cent of the workload of the court relates to licensing functions for the Department for Planning and Infrastructure. We have entered into discussions, the outcome of which I will advise the member in a minute. The staff at the courthouse, employed to do what I am sure everybody would agree is a minimal amount of court-related work, are 2.2 full-time equivalents - a clerk of courts, a court officer and a cleaner. Both the clerk of courts and court officer positions will be abolished. In weighing up the matter over the course of this year, we took into account the fact that Mandurah is 19 kilometres from Pinjarra. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: It has no public transport. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I appreciate the point made by the member for Murray-Wellington that there is no public transport between Mandurah and Pinjarra, which was a factor that weighed heavily the other way. The Mandurah court opened in 1988 and has very good facilities. The Pinjarra court opened in 1935 and is substantially deficient, and on that constrained site there is minimal opportunity for any improved facility at that building. An important matter that I would like to note is that as late as today officers of the Department of Justice have been meeting with officers of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the strong indications are that the courthouse will remain open, not as a courthouse but as a licensing centre. Although it is not yet guaranteed, it is the intention, arising from the meeting that took place this morning, that the use of the courthouse and the licensing function will continue in Pinjarra. In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
The staff at the courthouse, employed to do what I am sure everybody would agree is a minimal amount of court-related work, are 2.2 full-time equivalents - a clerk of courts, a court officer and a cleaner. Both the clerk of courts and court officer positions will be abolished. In weighing up the matter over the course of this year, we took into account the fact that Mandurah is 19 kilometres from Pinjarra. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: It has no public transport. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I appreciate the point made by the member for Murray-Wellington that there is no public transport between Mandurah and Pinjarra, which was a factor that weighed heavily the other way. The Mandurah court opened in 1988 and has very good facilities. The Pinjarra court opened in 1935 and is substantially deficient, and on that constrained site there is minimal opportunity for any improved facility at that building. An important matter that I would like to note is that as late as today officers of the Department of Justice have been meeting with officers of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the strong indications are that the courthouse will remain open, not as a courthouse but as a licensing centre. Although it is not yet guaranteed, it is the intention, arising from the meeting that took place this morning, that the use of the courthouse and the licensing function will continue in Pinjarra. In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
Mr J.L. Bradshaw: It has no public transport. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I appreciate the point made by the member for Murray-Wellington that there is no public transport between Mandurah and Pinjarra, which was a factor that weighed heavily the other way. The Mandurah court opened in 1988 and has very good facilities. The Pinjarra court opened in 1935 and is substantially deficient, and on that constrained site there is minimal opportunity for any improved facility at that building. An important matter that I would like to note is that as late as today officers of the Department of Justice have been meeting with officers of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the strong indications are that the courthouse will remain open, not as a courthouse but as a licensing centre. Although it is not yet guaranteed, it is the intention, arising from the meeting that took place this morning, that the use of the courthouse and the licensing function will continue in Pinjarra. In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I appreciate the point made by the member for Murray-Wellington that there is no public transport between Mandurah and Pinjarra, which was a factor that weighed heavily the other way. The Mandurah court opened in 1988 and has very good facilities. The Pinjarra court opened in 1935 and is substantially deficient, and on that constrained site there is minimal opportunity for any improved facility at that building. An important matter that I would like to note is that as late as today officers of the Department of Justice have been meeting with officers of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the strong indications are that the courthouse will remain open, not as a courthouse but as a licensing centre. Although it is not yet guaranteed, it is the intention, arising from the meeting that took place this morning, that the use of the courthouse and the licensing function will continue in Pinjarra. In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
(1) Does the Government intend to close the Pinjarra courthouse, which will result in the transfer of court proceedings to Mandurah, an end to drivers licence testing in Pinjarra and the loss of services for payment of motor vehicle licensing at the Pinjarra courthouse? (2) If yes to (1), how does the minister reconcile this move to decimate services in Pinjarra with the Government’s pre-election pledge to decentralise services? (3) As the Minister for Peel and the South West, does he support regionalisation and contracting services into Mandurah as against representing the whole region? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The Pinjarra courthouse will close on 31 December this year. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: That is disgraceful. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The reasons are that an examination of the work done through the courthouse in recent years has indicated that the number of criminal lodgments has remained stationary in the past three years and the number of civil lodgments has declined. The closure will effect a saving of $100 000 to the Department of Justice’s budget. It is important to note that the magistrate who sits at the Pinjarra courthouse goes there once every two months for one day. In addition, the court sits generally about once a week, sometimes a little more to deal with urgent restraining order applications. As the member indicated, about 70 per cent of the workload of the court relates to licensing functions for the Department for Planning and Infrastructure. We have entered into discussions, the outcome of which I will advise the member in a minute. The staff at the courthouse, employed to do what I am sure everybody would agree is a minimal amount of court-related work, are 2.2 full-time equivalents - a clerk of courts, a court officer and a cleaner. Both the clerk of courts and court officer positions will be abolished. In weighing up the matter over the course of this year, we took into account the fact that Mandurah is 19 kilometres from Pinjarra. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: It has no public transport. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I appreciate the point made by the member for Murray-Wellington that there is no public transport between Mandurah and Pinjarra, which was a factor that weighed heavily the other way. The Mandurah court opened in 1988 and has very good facilities. The Pinjarra court opened in 1935 and is substantially deficient, and on that constrained site there is minimal opportunity for any improved facility at that building. An important matter that I would like to note is that as late as today officers of the Department of Justice have been meeting with officers of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the strong indications are that the courthouse will remain open, not as a courthouse but as a licensing centre. Although it is not yet guaranteed, it is the intention, arising from the meeting that took place this morning, that the use of the courthouse and the licensing function will continue in Pinjarra. In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
(2) If yes to (1), how does the minister reconcile this move to decimate services in Pinjarra with the Government’s pre-election pledge to decentralise services? (3) As the Minister for Peel and the South West, does he support regionalisation and contracting services into Mandurah as against representing the whole region? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The Pinjarra courthouse will close on 31 December this year. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: That is disgraceful. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The reasons are that an examination of the work done through the courthouse in recent years has indicated that the number of criminal lodgments has remained stationary in the past three years and the number of civil lodgments has declined. The closure will effect a saving of $100 000 to the Department of Justice’s budget. It is important to note that the magistrate who sits at the Pinjarra courthouse goes there once every two months for one day. In addition, the court sits generally about once a week, sometimes a little more to deal with urgent restraining order applications. As the member indicated, about 70 per cent of the workload of the court relates to licensing functions for the Department for Planning and Infrastructure. We have entered into discussions, the outcome of which I will advise the member in a minute. The staff at the courthouse, employed to do what I am sure everybody would agree is a minimal amount of court-related work, are 2.2 full-time equivalents - a clerk of courts, a court officer and a cleaner. Both the clerk of courts and court officer positions will be abolished. In weighing up the matter over the course of this year, we took into account the fact that Mandurah is 19 kilometres from Pinjarra. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: It has no public transport. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I appreciate the point made by the member for Murray-Wellington that there is no public transport between Mandurah and Pinjarra, which was a factor that weighed heavily the other way. The Mandurah court opened in 1988 and has very good facilities. The Pinjarra court opened in 1935 and is substantially deficient, and on that constrained site there is minimal opportunity for any improved facility at that building. An important matter that I would like to note is that as late as today officers of the Department of Justice have been meeting with officers of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the strong indications are that the courthouse will remain open, not as a courthouse but as a licensing centre. Although it is not yet guaranteed, it is the intention, arising from the meeting that took place this morning, that the use of the courthouse and the licensing function will continue in Pinjarra. In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
(3) As the Minister for Peel and the South West, does he support regionalisation and contracting services into Mandurah as against representing the whole region? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The Pinjarra courthouse will close on 31 December this year. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: That is disgraceful. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The reasons are that an examination of the work done through the courthouse in recent years has indicated that the number of criminal lodgments has remained stationary in the past three years and the number of civil lodgments has declined. The closure will effect a saving of $100 000 to the Department of Justice’s budget. It is important to note that the magistrate who sits at the Pinjarra courthouse goes there once every two months for one day. In addition, the court sits generally about once a week, sometimes a little more to deal with urgent restraining order applications. As the member indicated, about 70 per cent of the workload of the court relates to licensing functions for the Department for Planning and Infrastructure. We have entered into discussions, the outcome of which I will advise the member in a minute. The staff at the courthouse, employed to do what I am sure everybody would agree is a minimal amount of court-related work, are 2.2 full-time equivalents - a clerk of courts, a court officer and a cleaner. Both the clerk of courts and court officer positions will be abolished. In weighing up the matter over the course of this year, we took into account the fact that Mandurah is 19 kilometres from Pinjarra. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: It has no public transport. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I appreciate the point made by the member for Murray-Wellington that there is no public transport between Mandurah and Pinjarra, which was a factor that weighed heavily the other way. The Mandurah court opened in 1988 and has very good facilities. The Pinjarra court opened in 1935 and is substantially deficient, and on that constrained site there is minimal opportunity for any improved facility at that building. An important matter that I would like to note is that as late as today officers of the Department of Justice have been meeting with officers of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the strong indications are that the courthouse will remain open, not as a courthouse but as a licensing centre. Although it is not yet guaranteed, it is the intention, arising from the meeting that took place this morning, that the use of the courthouse and the licensing function will continue in Pinjarra. In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The Pinjarra courthouse will close on 31 December this year. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: That is disgraceful. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The reasons are that an examination of the work done through the courthouse in recent years has indicated that the number of criminal lodgments has remained stationary in the past three years and the number of civil lodgments has declined. The closure will effect a saving of $100 000 to the Department of Justice’s budget. It is important to note that the magistrate who sits at the Pinjarra courthouse goes there once every two months for one day. In addition, the court sits generally about once a week, sometimes a little more to deal with urgent restraining order applications. As the member indicated, about 70 per cent of the workload of the court relates to licensing functions for the Department for Planning and Infrastructure. We have entered into discussions, the outcome of which I will advise the member in a minute. The staff at the courthouse, employed to do what I am sure everybody would agree is a minimal amount of court-related work, are 2.2 full-time equivalents - a clerk of courts, a court officer and a cleaner. Both the clerk of courts and court officer positions will be abolished. In weighing up the matter over the course of this year, we took into account the fact that Mandurah is 19 kilometres from Pinjarra. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: It has no public transport. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I appreciate the point made by the member for Murray-Wellington that there is no public transport between Mandurah and Pinjarra, which was a factor that weighed heavily the other way. The Mandurah court opened in 1988 and has very good facilities. The Pinjarra court opened in 1935 and is substantially deficient, and on that constrained site there is minimal opportunity for any improved facility at that building. An important matter that I would like to note is that as late as today officers of the Department of Justice have been meeting with officers of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the strong indications are that the courthouse will remain open, not as a courthouse but as a licensing centre. Although it is not yet guaranteed, it is the intention, arising from the meeting that took place this morning, that the use of the courthouse and the licensing function will continue in Pinjarra. In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
(1)-(3) The Pinjarra courthouse will close on 31 December this year. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: That is disgraceful. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The reasons are that an examination of the work done through the courthouse in recent years has indicated that the number of criminal lodgments has remained stationary in the past three years and the number of civil lodgments has declined. The closure will effect a saving of $100 000 to the Department of Justice’s budget. It is important to note that the magistrate who sits at the Pinjarra courthouse goes there once every two months for one day. In addition, the court sits generally about once a week, sometimes a little more to deal with urgent restraining order applications. As the member indicated, about 70 per cent of the workload of the court relates to licensing functions for the Department for Planning and Infrastructure. We have entered into discussions, the outcome of which I will advise the member in a minute. The staff at the courthouse, employed to do what I am sure everybody would agree is a minimal amount of court-related work, are 2.2 full-time equivalents - a clerk of courts, a court officer and a cleaner. Both the clerk of courts and court officer positions will be abolished. In weighing up the matter over the course of this year, we took into account the fact that Mandurah is 19 kilometres from Pinjarra. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: It has no public transport. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I appreciate the point made by the member for Murray-Wellington that there is no public transport between Mandurah and Pinjarra, which was a factor that weighed heavily the other way. The Mandurah court opened in 1988 and has very good facilities. The Pinjarra court opened in 1935 and is substantially deficient, and on that constrained site there is minimal opportunity for any improved facility at that building. An important matter that I would like to note is that as late as today officers of the Department of Justice have been meeting with officers of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the strong indications are that the courthouse will remain open, not as a courthouse but as a licensing centre. Although it is not yet guaranteed, it is the intention, arising from the meeting that took place this morning, that the use of the courthouse and the licensing function will continue in Pinjarra. In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
Mr J.L. Bradshaw: That is disgraceful. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The reasons are that an examination of the work done through the courthouse in recent years has indicated that the number of criminal lodgments has remained stationary in the past three years and the number of civil lodgments has declined. The closure will effect a saving of $100 000 to the Department of Justice’s budget. It is important to note that the magistrate who sits at the Pinjarra courthouse goes there once every two months for one day. In addition, the court sits generally about once a week, sometimes a little more to deal with urgent restraining order applications. As the member indicated, about 70 per cent of the workload of the court relates to licensing functions for the Department for Planning and Infrastructure. We have entered into discussions, the outcome of which I will advise the member in a minute. The staff at the courthouse, employed to do what I am sure everybody would agree is a minimal amount of court-related work, are 2.2 full-time equivalents - a clerk of courts, a court officer and a cleaner. Both the clerk of courts and court officer positions will be abolished. In weighing up the matter over the course of this year, we took into account the fact that Mandurah is 19 kilometres from Pinjarra. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: It has no public transport. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I appreciate the point made by the member for Murray-Wellington that there is no public transport between Mandurah and Pinjarra, which was a factor that weighed heavily the other way. The Mandurah court opened in 1988 and has very good facilities. The Pinjarra court opened in 1935 and is substantially deficient, and on that constrained site there is minimal opportunity for any improved facility at that building. An important matter that I would like to note is that as late as today officers of the Department of Justice have been meeting with officers of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the strong indications are that the courthouse will remain open, not as a courthouse but as a licensing centre. Although it is not yet guaranteed, it is the intention, arising from the meeting that took place this morning, that the use of the courthouse and the licensing function will continue in Pinjarra. In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: The reasons are that an examination of the work done through the courthouse in recent years has indicated that the number of criminal lodgments has remained stationary in the past three years and the number of civil lodgments has declined. The closure will effect a saving of $100 000 to the Department of Justice’s budget. It is important to note that the magistrate who sits at the Pinjarra courthouse goes there once every two months for one day. In addition, the court sits generally about once a week, sometimes a little more to deal with urgent restraining order applications. As the member indicated, about 70 per cent of the workload of the court relates to licensing functions for the Department for Planning and Infrastructure. We have entered into discussions, the outcome of which I will advise the member in a minute. The staff at the courthouse, employed to do what I am sure everybody would agree is a minimal amount of court-related work, are 2.2 full-time equivalents - a clerk of courts, a court officer and a cleaner. Both the clerk of courts and court officer positions will be abolished. In weighing up the matter over the course of this year, we took into account the fact that Mandurah is 19 kilometres from Pinjarra. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: It has no public transport. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I appreciate the point made by the member for Murray-Wellington that there is no public transport between Mandurah and Pinjarra, which was a factor that weighed heavily the other way. The Mandurah court opened in 1988 and has very good facilities. The Pinjarra court opened in 1935 and is substantially deficient, and on that constrained site there is minimal opportunity for any improved facility at that building. An important matter that I would like to note is that as late as today officers of the Department of Justice have been meeting with officers of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the strong indications are that the courthouse will remain open, not as a courthouse but as a licensing centre. Although it is not yet guaranteed, it is the intention, arising from the meeting that took place this morning, that the use of the courthouse and the licensing function will continue in Pinjarra. In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
It is important to note that the magistrate who sits at the Pinjarra courthouse goes there once every two months for one day. In addition, the court sits generally about once a week, sometimes a little more to deal with urgent restraining order applications. As the member indicated, about 70 per cent of the workload of the court relates to licensing functions for the Department for Planning and Infrastructure. We have entered into discussions, the outcome of which I will advise the member in a minute. The staff at the courthouse, employed to do what I am sure everybody would agree is a minimal amount of court-related work, are 2.2 full-time equivalents - a clerk of courts, a court officer and a cleaner. Both the clerk of courts and court officer positions will be abolished. In weighing up the matter over the course of this year, we took into account the fact that Mandurah is 19 kilometres from Pinjarra. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: It has no public transport. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I appreciate the point made by the member for Murray-Wellington that there is no public transport between Mandurah and Pinjarra, which was a factor that weighed heavily the other way. The Mandurah court opened in 1988 and has very good facilities. The Pinjarra court opened in 1935 and is substantially deficient, and on that constrained site there is minimal opportunity for any improved facility at that building. An important matter that I would like to note is that as late as today officers of the Department of Justice have been meeting with officers of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the strong indications are that the courthouse will remain open, not as a courthouse but as a licensing centre. Although it is not yet guaranteed, it is the intention, arising from the meeting that took place this morning, that the use of the courthouse and the licensing function will continue in Pinjarra. In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
The staff at the courthouse, employed to do what I am sure everybody would agree is a minimal amount of court-related work, are 2.2 full-time equivalents - a clerk of courts, a court officer and a cleaner. Both the clerk of courts and court officer positions will be abolished. In weighing up the matter over the course of this year, we took into account the fact that Mandurah is 19 kilometres from Pinjarra. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: It has no public transport. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I appreciate the point made by the member for Murray-Wellington that there is no public transport between Mandurah and Pinjarra, which was a factor that weighed heavily the other way. The Mandurah court opened in 1988 and has very good facilities. The Pinjarra court opened in 1935 and is substantially deficient, and on that constrained site there is minimal opportunity for any improved facility at that building. An important matter that I would like to note is that as late as today officers of the Department of Justice have been meeting with officers of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the strong indications are that the courthouse will remain open, not as a courthouse but as a licensing centre. Although it is not yet guaranteed, it is the intention, arising from the meeting that took place this morning, that the use of the courthouse and the licensing function will continue in Pinjarra. In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
Mr J.L. Bradshaw: It has no public transport. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I appreciate the point made by the member for Murray-Wellington that there is no public transport between Mandurah and Pinjarra, which was a factor that weighed heavily the other way. The Mandurah court opened in 1988 and has very good facilities. The Pinjarra court opened in 1935 and is substantially deficient, and on that constrained site there is minimal opportunity for any improved facility at that building. An important matter that I would like to note is that as late as today officers of the Department of Justice have been meeting with officers of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the strong indications are that the courthouse will remain open, not as a courthouse but as a licensing centre. Although it is not yet guaranteed, it is the intention, arising from the meeting that took place this morning, that the use of the courthouse and the licensing function will continue in Pinjarra. In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I appreciate the point made by the member for Murray-Wellington that there is no public transport between Mandurah and Pinjarra, which was a factor that weighed heavily the other way. The Mandurah court opened in 1988 and has very good facilities. The Pinjarra court opened in 1935 and is substantially deficient, and on that constrained site there is minimal opportunity for any improved facility at that building. An important matter that I would like to note is that as late as today officers of the Department of Justice have been meeting with officers of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the strong indications are that the courthouse will remain open, not as a courthouse but as a licensing centre. Although it is not yet guaranteed, it is the intention, arising from the meeting that took place this morning, that the use of the courthouse and the licensing function will continue in Pinjarra. In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
In answer to the political questions asked of me in my role as the Minister for Peel and the South West, I take the view that we must ensure that there are adequate services. In my view the employment of 2.2 FTE staff and the expenditure of $100 000 a year cannot be justified in the light of the minimal court use of the building; the majority of the use is for licensing purposes. I hope I have been able to play a role to facilitate the continuation of the licensing function. If it continues to be provided it will be a more important service to the people of Pinjarra.
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