More courts face reduction in face-to-face service

Family law and family violence practice principal lawyer at Hume Riverina Community Legal Service (HRCLS), Alison Maher, has echoed growing concerns about the impending closure of 'in person' service at Wangaratta Magistrates' Court to the public on non-sitting days. Official announcement about the closures were confirmed late on Thursday, 11 July with more details emerging this week when it was also confirmed in a statement from Magistrates' Court Victoria (MCV) that a total of 10 courts have switched to remote registry services on non-sitting days. The statement said this was the third phase of MCV's 'successful pilot' to shift to remote servicing on non-sitting days at remote courts, which began in early 2024. This was a pilot program that it seems few were aware of until recently. "Court users can access support by phoning or emailing the court," an MCV spokesperson said. "There are no court security officers present on non-sitting days. "There is no reduction to staff hours, no job losses, and no changes to existing sitting days. "This model provides the staff with time to prepare listing for future sitting days and do other registry work. "On non-sitting days judicial officers are allocated to other locations within the region to hear court matters within those local communities." Those courts that have switched to remote registry services on non-sitting days include Benalla and Seymour, with Wangaratta earmarked for 14 non-sitting days. Nationals MP for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland was outraged at the cuts. "At a time when crime is skyrocketing, the justice system is under immense pressure and court backlogs are worsening, it is unfathomable that the government has chosen to slash funding to magistrates’ courts," Ms Cleeland said. "Any further cuts to nearby courts such as Wangaratta will increase pressure on the system and risk grinding it to a halt. "Justice delayed is justice denied, and that is exactly the direction we are heading in. “These local courts deal with some of the most serious issues our communities face, including family violence and community safety. "Reducing access to justice means more victims left in limbo, more perpetrators walking free, and more regional communities left without support." Ms Maher said HRCLS sees firsthand the level of need in the community. In 2023-24 HRCLS assisted 1338 clients with more than 88 per cent experiencing financial disadvantage, more than 71pc were experiencing or at risk of family violence, more than 51pc experiencing poor mental health or living with disability, over 28pc were experiencing or at risk of homelessness, almost 17pc were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and almost 15pc young people under 25 years of age. "Our service is concerned about the impacts the court closures will have on the general public," Ms Maher said. "In addition to magistrates hearing matters, the courts provide a valuable service to the community, including assisting victim survivors with family violence applications and having the applications put before a magistrate for an urgent interim hearing. "Many victim survivors do not reach out to police for assistance with intervention orders, or are referred by police or other organisations to the Magistrates Court. "If clients can’t navigate the systems remotely, there is a real risk that the applications won't be made in a timely manner, or at all. "I am deeply concerned that the closure of the court on certain days will be another barrier to people accessing justice." Ms Maher said at a time when family violence in our region continues to rise, above state averages, it is imperative that courts be open and available to help victim survivors obtain critical Intervention Orders to keep themselves or their families safe. "We need more court services in the North East, not less," she said. "You can’t replace place-based services. "Not all members of the public have phones or laptops, or can navigate systems online." Ms Maher said courts also provide information about court days and processes as well as JP services – to witness or sign important documents, they provide individuals with information to other legal and non legal organisations such as lawyers, or support services such as family violence frontline services or housing and take payments from people, for instance for fines, or licence restorations (such as drug driving) and not all of these are accessible by phone or online. "Closures of courts may mean that clients are reaching out for more free legal services," Ms Maher said. "These resources are already stretched, we turned away more people than we saw in 2023-2024." She said HRCLS had four key goals: • To keep Wangaratta Court open five days a week to the public, excluding public holidays. • More consideration and resourcing for regional courts in our communities. • An acknowledgement that you can’t replace face-to-face services with remote options such as phone lines, websites and a distant headquarter court. • Proper consultation with the community on the impacts of any closures. Court users can speak to a Registrar by calling (03) 9087 5728, emailing wangarattacoordinator@courts.vic.gov.au or visiting the Shepparton Court at 18 High St, Shepparton.

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