By Charlene Macaulay
A Wyndham councillor has called on the state government and opposition to commit to fund a new multi-jurisdictional court in Werribee as part of their election promises.
Safer communities portfolio holder Kim McAliney said she was “extremely disappointed” the court, which would make up part of the proposed Wyndham Justice Precinct slated for East Werribee, did not receive funding in the 2018-19 budget.
Cr McAliney said Werribee Magistrates Court did not have a safe area for female victims of family violence, meaning victims sit metres away from perpetrators in court.
Furthermore, a number of civil and criminal matters are diverted to Sunshine Magistrates Court because Werribee is not big enough to deal with the local case load.
“Our magistrates court is dangerously small and antiquated,” she said.
Cr McAliney said a wider justice precinct, which would co-locate the court, a police complex, and community and justice-related services, was “urgently required”.
“We need to support our police by ensuring that they are not subject to a revolving door system of re-arresting.”
Neither the state government or the opposition responded to Star Weekly’s questions by deadline.
