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Member for the Southern Metropolitan Region Georgie Crozier asked Attorney-General and Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes about upgrades committed to the premises in 2016.
“As the Attorney would be aware, the Echuca courthouse is located in the Campaspe Shire Council offices at the end of this building,” she said.
“There have been ongoing community safety issues where those waiting to appear in court are milling around in a shared space with ratepayers using the council services office.
“In 2016 the government announced a $1.1 million upgrade to provide separate court access and safe interview rooms as part of the response to the family violence royal commission.
“Eight years on, why hasn’t the promise of separate entrances to the courthouse and council service centres been delivered?”
In 2016, the Victorian Government announced $1.1 million in funding for upgrades to the Echuca Magistrates’ Court, part of a $58.1 million justice system project in the 2016-17 State Budget.
Ms Symes announced the proposed upgrades at the court in April 2016, including separate court access, waiting rooms and safe interview rooms, new court security officers, and a new walk-through metal detector.
“It is crucial that when vulnerable people, especially those caught up in family violence, attend court they can do so in a safe manner, free from threat or intimidation,” she said at the time.
“The Andrews Labor Government is keeping Victorians safe, and ensuring that our justice system supports those in our community who are most in need.”
In response to Ms Crozier’s question about why these renovations have not happened, Ms Symes recognised the hard work of court staff and praised the new Koori Court, while agreeing that the courthouse needs updating.
“I had the pleasure of visiting the Echuca courthouse (on Wednesday, April 17) and hearing firsthand of the amazing work they do,” she said.
“The newly opened Koori Court is providing an amazing service to Indigenous Victorians in this region, a model that we know is responding to specific communities, and Aboriginal Victorians are receiving that service now here in Echuca.
“It is obvious when you enter the Echuca courthouse that its facilities are not modern and not up to date, and they are doing an amazing job to work around those constraints.”
She took the opportunity to also recognise the new court facilities in Bendigo and told the council she is working alongside Echuca court staff.
“There have been minor upgrades to the Echuca facility, and I remain in conversations with the Magistrates’ Court, with Court Services Victoria and indeed with the hardworking registrars, court staff and magistrates at the Echuca courthouse,” she said.
Ms Crozier, unsatisfied with Ms Symes’ answer, pressed her again on the matter, asking to be updated on the $5 million renovations for the courthouse allocated in the May 2018 budget.
“Attorney, it was eight years ago that you made that announcement, and you are failing the community in not delivering what you promised,” she said.
“In the May 2018 budget the government announced an additional $5 million for upgrades to the Echuca courthouse.
“Four years later this project has not even started. So again I ask: when will the work on the Echuca courthouse start?”
The 2018-19 Victorian State Budget pledged $4.85 million to upgrades at Echuca courthouse.
“The government will upgrade critical infrastructure to improve the safety, security and operation of the court in Echuca. This initiative contributes to Court Services Victoria’s Courts output,” it said.
Ms Symes said that renovating the site has proven difficult, but she is in conversation with key stakeholders.
“It is a difficult site to work around. It is obviously, as you have indicated, a facility that has been in existence for some time. It has some history – obviously its partnership with the council,” she said.
“I will continue to work with, as I said in my previous answer, Court Services Victoria and the amazing court workers out here in Echuca.”
Local matters: The Victorian Legislative Council’s regional sitting at Echuca Library. Photo: Aidan Briggs
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Following up on discussions from the Legislative Council regional sitting, a Victorian Government spokesperson has said the renovations are in the hands of different groups.
“We have delivered the funding for this project to Court Services Victoria,” they said.
“CSV and the Campapse Shire Council have renewed the lease for the Echuca court while appropriate options for redevelopment renewal are explored by CSV, Magistrates’ Court of Victoria and the Council.”
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