As restrictions continue to ease here in NSW, the weekend spike in COVID-19 cases in Victoria is a timely reminder that we must all remain vigilant and disciplined about physical distancing and good hygiene to prevent a second wave of infection. Of the 25 new COVID-19 cases in Australia in the past 24 hours, 19 of those have been in Victoria.

We are at a crucial point on the road to recovery in NSW. With the staggered resumption of face-to-face hearings in some of our state’s courts and more in the planning, we must continue to ensure that the safety of all court users remains paramount. Now is not the time to be complacent.  

While all reasonable steps and precautions are being taken by the jurisdictions to minimise the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in our court buildings, there is much that we as a profession can do to help our courts remain COVID-free.

This includes continuing to practise good hygiene and physical distancing measures when attending court, being supportive of measures to limit the number of people attending and remaining in court buildings, and conducting preliminary activities remotely or offsite. And of course, if you are unwell, do not attend court.

Courts, Tribunals and Service Delivery (CTSD) is also encouraging all court users, including legal practitioners, to download the COVID-Safe app and ensure it is active whilst in court precincts.

I would urge any members of the profession involved in court matters to ensure they are familiar with the relevant protocols and procedures and to keep up to date with changes in court operations as they are announced. To assist you, the Law Society will continue to provide updates for the profession in Monday Briefs and our twice-weekly “COVID-19 Update”.

Richard Harvey, President, Law Society of NSW

< Go back