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  4. 22 October 1998

Campbelltown Court

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SpeakersLynn The Hon Charlie
BusinessAdjournment

CAMPBELLTOWN COURT

The Hon. C. J. S. LYNN [5.25 p.m.]: It has been brought to my attention today that certain bureaucrats have made decisions relating to whether court proceedings should be held in Camden and Campbelltown. A memorandum sent to local magistrates by the co-ordinating magistrate reveals that certain legal processes will no longer take place in Campbelltown; those processes are being shifted to Burwood. That strikes me as a completely absurd case of bureaucracy gone mad. It is interesting to note that the decision was made in consultation with the Legal Aid Commission and the Director of Public Prosecutions, but not in consultation with local barristers, solicitors and other people working in Campbelltown and Camden.

It was not made in consultation with the parliamentary representatives in the area, and certainly not in consultation with the people of Campbelltown and Camden. Campbelltown and Camden are not part of the metropolitan area, but because of a bureaucratic decision those two areas are to be included in the metropolitan area. The large amount of green land separating Campbelltown from the metropolitan area is still there. Public transport is difficult enough in my area, but it is ridiculous to expect people to travel all the way into Burwood. It is difficult for people living in Camden because there is no public transport from Camden to Campbelltown to enable them to catch the train to Burwood.

This may be a method of making the courts more efficient and it may be a way of saving the Government money, but is not suitable for the people of Campbelltown and Camden. Areas like Campbelltown and Camden must not be further neglected by this Government. The people in those areas are entitled to the same service as everybody else. I can understand why the Government is not too fussed about the Camden area as the Labor Party does not hold that seat. Perhaps this an indication that the honourable member for Campbelltown is expecting to lose his seat in March next year because he has neglected that area for the past 3½ years.

It important to remember that the people own the courts; they are not owned by the judges or by the bureaucrats. Any decision that will affect the services that the people of Campbelltown and Camden are entitled to should not be made without proper consultation. It would be wise for the Government to examine this matter and review the decision that has been made as soon as proper consultation has taken place - consultation that actually takes into account the views of the people and not merely the bureaucrats that such a decision will affect.



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