Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was so disappointing to see yet another budget with no improvements for the Commonwealth courts in Newcastle. There was no acknowledgement of the terrible physical constraints the courts operate in and no sign of a plan to alleviate the pressure on the people who have to use them. I am yet to receive a reply from the Attorney-General, Christian Porter, advising me of when Newcastle can expect to have our full complement of Federal Circuit Court judges after Judge Middleton's transfer to Queensland. This is the third time in as many years that Newcastle has been left high and dry because of a lack of timely appointments by the government of Federal Court judge replacements. Each time, my community is forced to wait many months for a replacement.

This has led to longer and longer delays and lives left in limbo while people wait desperately for their family law cases to be resolved. This isn't just an inconvenience, it's a serious matter of community safety—especially for families facing diabolical issues including domestic violence, substance abuse and extreme family breakdowns. I had hoped that the new Attorney-General would not go down the same path of neglect and negligence as his predecessor, but I fear that this is exactly what is happening. The people of Newcastle deserve so much more from this government. I plead with the Attorney-General to act now to make amends for the shocking history of inertia. (Time expired)