The Member for Geraldton, Kirrilee Warr MLA, has called on the State Government to provide urgent certainty and support for the judiciary and the regional justice system following changes to district court sittings in regional Western Australia.
Ms Warr said that while she acknowledges the courts’ advice that current arrangements are in place due to safety and security requirements, there is now a clear need for government leadership to ensure regional communities are not left bearing the consequences.
“Courts and judicial officers must be supported to do their work safely and effectively, but we also need certainty for the system and for the communities it serves,” Ms Warr said.
“Right now, regional WA is facing uncertainty about how long these arrangements will remain in place and what the long-term model looks like.
“Our community deserves to know what the future holds for our court system, and the Government must explain how we got to this point.”
Ms Warr said communities such as Geraldton are already experiencing increasing demand on court services, and any further centralisation risks compounding delays and stretching resources even further.
“For Geraldton and surrounding regions, court demand is not decreasing it is increasing,” she said.
“The announcement will only add to these wait times for people to access court services.”
Ms Warr said the impacts on remote communities were particularly concerning.
“For people living in remote parts of the broader Geraldton and Mid West region, this means longer travel distances, greater costs, and reduced access to timely hearings,” she said.
“This is not just an administrative issue, it affects victims, witnesses, families, and the ability of people to access justice in a fair and timely way.”
Ms Warr is calling on the State Government to provide clear assurances on the future of regional court services and to work with the judiciary to ensure appropriate resourcing and continuity.
“We need certainty, we need planning, and we need proper support for the justice system in regional WA,” she said.
“Without that, the pressure will continue to build on regional courts and the communities they serve.”
