A meeting of Judges, lawyers and others who regularly use the NT Local Court has determined to take measures to reduce the impact of the Covid-19 virus.
Dozens of stakeholders in Darwin, Katherine, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Nhulunbuy, this week held a virtual-meeting to discuss the Covid-19 virus and how it could impact on the courts.
All initiatives involved steps to reduce the movement of people around the NT who are involved with court matters.
The meeting confirmed that all circuit courts, known sometimes as 'bush courts', had hearings cancelled until May 1, with the exception of Tennant Creek.
A major change to court procedures will be that people arrested in remote areas who are not given bail by police or by an on-call judge will be held in custody in their communities rather than transported immediately to the major centres while they await their next court appearance, which will be on the next business day.
That court appearance will be via telephone or video-link, in an effort to reduce unnecessary movements in and out of remote communities.
Defendants currently on remand will be dealt with in major court centres, with witnesses appearing via video-link or telephone.
Chief Judge of the Local Court, Elizabeth Morris, said the new measures were an important way the Local Court could help prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
“The NT Local Court takes seriously its duty of care to those appearing before it and its responsibility to play our part in keeping the community safe,” Chief Judge Morris said.
“The courts are keeping a close eye on events locally and elsewhere and reviewing procedures as needed,” she said.
There will be extra phone and AVL resource made available to assist lawyers to take instructions from clients at the Darwin Correctional Centre in Holtz and in the Alice Springs Correctional Centre.
In an effort to limit the number of people attending court in person, some court matters will now be dealt with electronically, with measures for electronic filing, and appearances via telephone and AVL being fast-tracked.
The NT Local Courts have hand sanitiser available and put signage in courtrooms about hygiene and social distancing.
If anyone is in doubt about what is happening with their Court matter they should ring the closest Court registry (https://localcourt.nt.gov.au/contact-us)
More information - Xavier La Canna (Courts and Tribunals public relations officer) 0447 286 342