Thursday, 24 March 2022

Western Victoria Region

Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:45): (1720) My question is for the Attorney-General and concerns the backlog of cases at VCAT. I have raised in the past the damage done by court waiting lists to victims of crime and also to those accused. As the phrase goes, justice delayed is justice denied. But the explosion in building costs means VCAT delays are having huge financial consequences too for both public and private development. As the Warrnambool Standard reported this week, a $4 million project by Heatherlie Homes to build 13 housing units in the city for older people faces an increase in cost of 20 per cent every two months. If the VCAT delays continue, it could cost more than $1 million beyond the original budget. This scenario is repeated right across regional Victoria. When, Minister, will you increase capacity, schedule additional hearings and clear the backlog which is costing millions and crippling development?