As with Presidents before me, I have campaigned vigorously this year for a significant injection of State Government funding to reduce the ongoing delays and backlogs in the state’s justice system.

As members well know, an increase in our state’s police resources in recent years has put more police on the beat, resulting in more arrests and an increase in the number of people on remand, awaiting trial. The resulting delays and backlogs in the courts have not only had an impact on victims, witnesses and the accused, but also on the viability of practice for solicitors and law practices.

The NSW Government’s recent announcement of a $148 million funding boost for the District Court, which includes the appointment of seven extra District Court judges, will do much to cut through the backlog and bring about faster trials.

The four-year funding package includes $63 million for new judges, sheriff officers, court staff, jury cost and security upgrades plus $45 million for more crown prosecutors, lawyers and Witness Assistance Services officers.  Another $34.5 million will fund new senior lawyers at Legal Aid NSW and provide more grants to solicitors representing legally aided clients. This is great news for private practitioners, particularly the younger members of our profession who often take on Legal Aid work.

We applaud the NSW Government for this significant and much needed funding package for our courts. It will have a positive impact on our justice system, particularly in regional areas where court closures and reductions in sittings have restricted access to justice.

While the Law Society of NSW cannot take full credit for this funding package, we would like to think that our lobbying efforts have played some part in obtaining these extra resources, particularly in relation to the amount of funding that has been provided.

In the lead-up to the March 2019 State Election, we will continue to advocate for other enhancements and resources in priority areas of need to ensure access to justice and the efficient administration of justice for the people of NSW. 

On another note, a number of high-profile cases in recent times have put the spotlight firmly on the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace. Even more so during the past week. While the #MeToo movement has given women a platform to speak out about and share their stories of victimisation, it’s clear that much work needs to be done to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace and to change the culture that prevents women from reporting harassment.

I would invite members of the profession to attend our upcoming LSJ Speaker Series on Sexual Harassment in the Legal Profession on Wednesday, 28 November. Our panel of experts will include Kate Eastman SC, a highly regarded human rights barrister who has spent her career advocating for victims of sexual harassment, and Kristine Ziwica, head of NOW Australia, the Australian movement started by Tracey Spicer in response to #MeToo.

Doug Humphreys
Law Society President 2018
Twitter:  @LSNSW_President

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