Thursday, 16 October 2025

 Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) incorporated the following (2028):

My adjournment matter is for the Attorney-General.

Victoria is facing a chronic shortage of justices of the peace, and this is having a real impact on communities right across our state. JPs provide an essential free service, acting as independent and objective witnesses for documents used in legal and official processes.

I recently met with a JP in Kennington who raised serious concerns about the shortage and the urgent need to encourage more people to undertake the appropriate training and become registered. Compared to states like New South Wales and Queensland, Victoria has significantly fewer JPs, and the current number simply isn’t keeping pace with population growth.

This shortfall is placing increasing pressure on the few JPs who are active and making it difficult for residents, particularly in regional areas, to access this important service in a timely way.

JPs are volunteers who play a vital role in supporting our justice system. The action I seek is for the Attorney-General to outline what steps the state government is taking to recruit, retain and support more justices of the peace across Northern Victoria to ensure this essential service remains accessible to regional communities.