$20 million funding to free up court backlog
NSW District Courts will benefit from a $20 million funding package, including the appointment of two new judges, to free up the backlog of criminal trials.
The package aims to bring immediate relief to the growing number of criminal trials waiting to be processed over the next 18 months.
It will also fund a range of other initiatives to deliver fast, fair and accessible justice across NSW, including bringing parties together to resolve matters earlier, additional public defenders and initial plea discussions to identify early guilty pleas.
Regional and Metropolitan NSW areas to benefit from an increase in sitting weeks include:
- Parramatta – 20 weeks
- Goulburn – four weeks
- Albury – three weeks
- Bega – two weeks
- Griffith – two weeks
- Queanbeyan – two weeks
The NSW Government will track the benefit of these emergency measures and make sure the extra resources continue to be targeted appropriately to address pressures in the District Court.