Official launch of videolink facilities at Bunbury and Geraldton

17/12/99
The intelligent court room became reality in regional Western Australia today with Attorney General Peter Foss appearing simultaneously in courts in South Hedland, Geraldton and Bunbury.
The occasion was the official opening of the $4.7m South Hedland Justice Complex and launch of videolink facilities at Geraldton and Bunbury.
"The ability to launch this superb new complex in South Hedland via videolink with Geraldton and Bunbury is a unique event in the history of courts," Mr Foss said.
"These facilities now provide our regional customers with an unprecedented justice network through which to access a wider range of services."
About $800,000 ($400,000 each) has been invested in furnishing Geraldton and Bunbury Courthouses with the latest digital technology.
"Video conferencing is just one of the new technologies to be embraced by the Ministry of Justice," Mr Foss said.
"The ability for evidence to be taken from remote, overseas and interstate witnesses looks set to transform the way trials are conducted.
"Our regional customers are important to us, and the launch of these state-of-the-art facilities will mean less travel time, less waiting, improved security and improved access to justice services in their own community."
Along with the latest in video conferencing facilities, one Jury Court and one Magistrate's Court in both Geraldton and Bunbury were upgraded to enable a wider range of services to the users of the court.
The jury briefing rooms in both courts were also upgraded to provide remand appearance facilities as well as providing a suitable venue for external video conferencing and training meetings.
Remote and vulnerable witness services are provided in another refurbished room of the courthouses.
"The Bunbury and Geraldton courthouses are just one part of the $3.8 million investment which will be spent over the next five years to extend video conferencing facilities to all metropolitan and regional courts," Mr Foss said.
The upgrade program will build on existing systems in the Supreme Court, the Central Law Courts, Hakea Prison, and the Kalgoorlie Court House.
The South Hedland Justice Complex is part of the Ministry of Justice's extensive capital works program which includes the $15 million Fremantle Justice Complex, the $4.1 million Busselton Justice Complex, the $7.5 million Rockingham Complex and the $8.6 million Albany Justice Complex. All will be fitted with the latest in courts' technology.
Media contact: Chris Morris 9321 2222