No. 35

INCREASED FUNDING TO THE DPP 

The Stanhope Government is strengthening the capability of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions with an additional $500,000 in annual funding.

Attorney General Simon Corbell said that the funding was a demonstration of the Government’s commitment to a fair and effective criminal justice system.

“This increase in annual funding recognises the current pressures on the Office which has made it difficult to provide timely and high quality prosecution services,” he said.

“The criminal justice system contributes to a safe, secure and fair community but this depends on a prosecution service being able to properly prepare cases to present to the courts. 

“There have been many growing and changing systemic demands on the prosecution service, including a growing complexity in the cases it is asked to prosecute, a need to ensure the system is human rights compliant, increased capacity over time in the ACT Courts and new case management procedures that have been introduced to manage criminal cases. 

“The Criminal Code, the Evidence Act, the Human Rights Act and new regulatory regimes have all introduced new and challenging responsibilities on prosecutors.

“This increase in funding means that the Office of the DPP will be able to seek more staff and provide further training for them and for investigative agencies with a view to presenting better prepared cases with quality advocacy before the courts.

“An effective DPP is essential for maintaining public confidence in the ACT justice system.”