Government Scramble on Justice Delays Following Opposition Pressure

Media Release | 19 August 2025‍

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Nick Goiran MLC
‍Shadow Attorney-General

The Cook Labor Government’s announcement today of a review into court delays is a belated acknowledgment of a crisis the Opposition has been warning about for years.

Only last week, Shadow Attorney General Nick Goiran reminded Parliament that the Law Society of Western Australia had repeatedly raised the alarm about criminal trial delays, citing public warnings going back to 2021.

He said Western Australia’s courts were buckling under the weight of backlogs and shortages, with victims, accused persons, and their families left waiting years for matters to come to trial.

“It should not take repeated pleas from the Law Society and pointed questions in Parliament for the Government to wake up to the reality that justice delayed is justice denied,” he said.

“The Attorney General’s sudden announcement today smacks of political damage control rather than a long considered genuine plan to fix the problem.“

In some cases, these court delays have led to alleged violent offenders being granted bail, with judges citing the length of time before trial as a contributing factor in their decision.”

Mr Goiran said the review must be comprehensive, transparent, and swift, with concrete measures to expand court capacity and ensure timely trials.

“While we welcome any initiative that might improve efficiency in our justice system, Western Australians should not be fooled into thinking this Government is acting out of foresight,” Mr Goiran said.

“What is needed is immediate investment in court infrastructure, judicial resources, and support services. Anything less is too little, too late.”

“This is a Government that has ignored years of warnings. It is only now, on the eve of the Department appearing in Budget Estimates next week, that it has decided to act.“

"Just as we have seen in the health portfolio, we are seeing the same in justice.”

The Department of Justice, State Solicitors Office and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions will appear in Legislative Council Estimates on Monday 25 August 2025.

‍ENDS

‍‍Contact: Graham Mason 0419 194 792

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