Tuesday, 16 May 2023

 Sonja TERPSTRA (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (16:49): (199) My adjournment matter is for the Attorney-General, and the action I seek is for her to advocate for further funding for the Eastern Community Legal Centre and for Ringwood Magistrates Court’s Specialist Family Violence Court. Our government has been the country’s most progressive when it comes to our response to family violence, beginning with our establishing the world’s first Royal Commission into Family Violence. One of the royal commission’s 227 recommendations was to establish Specialist Family Violence Court divisions at each of the Magistrates Court headquarters across the state.

These courts would seek to provide a safer court experience for family violence survivors, with specially trained magistrates, court staff and family violence practitioners. Institutions within our justice system play a critical part in tackling the devastating impacts of violence, including those in the North-Eastern Metropolitan Region such as the Eastern Community Legal Centre and the Ringwood Magistrates Court. We know that the Magistrates Court of Victoria received $35 million through the 2021–22 state budget for capital works at seven new specialist family violence sites which are due to be completed over the next three years. These will provide for safety features, including safe waiting areas and separate entry and exits where practicable. The Ringwood Magistrates Court already has a specialist court established; however, there remain concerns as to the resources available to operationalise the critical aspects of these specialist courts. Many users of the Ringwood court and its services also rely on the services of the Eastern Community Legal Centre, who provide high-quality legal advice for many members of the North-Eastern Metropolitan community, including those from low socio-economic backgrounds who rely on accessible legal advice. Further funding for this community legal centre is critical to ensuring that the Eastern Community Legal Centre can continue its critical work in supporting members of the community in need of advice.

Attorney, I ask that you explore all possible avenues to ensure that these specialist courts and wraparound legal services are given the funding needed to operate and to provide some of Victoria’s most vulnerable people a safe court experience.