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Budget boost to District Court to ensure timely, effective justice

The State Government will introduce a number of amendments to the District Court of Western Australia Act 1969 and Criminal Code to help improve the delivery and efficiency of criminal justice in WA.

The amendments are necessary to enable the courts to manage the anticipated rise in drug prosecutions and trials to flow from the Government’s commitment to address WA’s meth crisis.

The reforms will include transferring a range of offences such as perjury and arson, which are punishable with life imprisonment, from the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to the District Court, as well as adjustments to the jurisdictional boundary between the District Court and the Magistrates Court to enable more offences to be tried summarily.

Two additional judges and support staff will be appointed to the District Court to address existing and anticipated workload issues.

For more 2017-18 State Budget information, visit http://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au


Source: Government of Western Australia.