Attorney General announces drug court magistrate

8/09/00
Attorney General Peter Foss today announced the appointment of barrister and solicitor Julie Wager as Western Australia's first drug court magistrate.
Mr Foss said Magistrate Wager would take up her new position on October 3.
"Her first task will be to set up the necessary processes to establish the drug court, its structure and how it will work on a day to day basis," Mr Foss said.
"I expect this will take several weeks to achieve and Magistrate Wager will be given all possible help to get this done.
"This is a new style of court in Western Australia, which will operate on a cooperative basis with all of the professionals involved, including the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Western Australian Police Service, defence lawyers, the court diversion service, medical professionals and drug support services.
"The central feature of the drug court system will be its ability to spend more time dealing with cases and to find a way for the individual offender to control their habit.
"The drug court system is the key initiative of the comprehensive diversion strategy which will be seeking to engage all drug offenders, from the first timer to the long term user, to help them rehabilitate.
"Like the new Family Violence Court, on a case by case basis, the court itself will be actively involved in managing the progress of offenders."
Mr Foss said the drug court system would help to minimise drug use and crime with professional treatment and other support, and sanctions tailor made for each individual who comes before the court.
"Drug courts have been trialed in other parts of Australia and around the world with varying degrees of success," he said.
"What will make our drug court system unique is that it will be part of a comprehensive drug diversion strategy including the already successful court diversion service. It will operate not only in the Magistrates Court but also will involve Judge French in the Children's Court and Chief Judge Hammond in the District Court.
"It will bring together the community's desire to see drug offenders not simply punished but also treated to address the drug problem."
The precise timing of the opening of the court will be determined when everyone involved has agreed that all the structures and processes are in place.
Police Minister, and Minister Responsible for Drug Abuse Strategy, Kevin Prince welcomed Magistrate Wager's appointment saying the drug court was a great initiative.
"The problem of illicit drug use is not going to go away as any member of the police service can attest to. But we know that treatment is the best way to change these offenders' behaviour and so protect the community," he said.
"The establishment of a drug court is part of a whole-of Government approach tackling drug abuse in a sensible and humane manner and is another initiative complementing the Safer W.A. strategy.
"I wish Ms Wager well in a particularly challenging role."
Magistrate Wager has had a distinguished legal career, which has included running her own legal practice, Acting Solicitor in Charge of the Criminal Law Section of the Legal Aid Commission of Western Australia and service as duty lawyer in the Children's Court.
Media contacts:
Mike Groves - Attorney General's office 9321 2222
Caroline Lacy - Police Minister's office 9220 5000