The Liberal Government is continuing to deliver worsening outcomes in the justice and corrections space, the latest report on Government Services shows. The criminal court backlog and number of people in Tasmanian prisons increased in the last year under the Liberal’s ineffective “tough on crime” policies.
Cassy O’Connor MLC – Greens Justice Spokesperson
Both the criminal court backlogs for the Supreme and Magistrate Court just keep climbing under the Liberals. The Supreme Court’s caseload increased from 765 to 903, continuing the trend under the Liberal Government and more than doubling in the last decade. The Magistrates Court went from 8,419 in 2022-23 to 9,068 pending cases in 2023-24.
These numbers represent thousands of Tasmanians who are being denied timely justice because the Liberals both underinvest in justice and cling to policies that clog up our courts and prisons.
The Liberals “tough on crime” approach is an epic failure. Through no fault of anyone working inside it, Tasmania’s justice system is beset by delays and simply not delivering justice. The courts are massively backed up, and Tasmanians in difficult circumstances are waiting for long periods of time for outcomes.
Instead of committing a billion dollars Tasmanians can’t afford into a stadium we don’t need, the Rockliff government should be investing in safer communities, crime prevention and reversing the cycle of disadvantage and incarceration. It’s a political choice by this government, and we’ll keep naming it up.
Cecily Rosol MP – Greens Corrections and Rehabilitation Spokesperson
The average number of people in Tasmanian prisons increased from 676 to 767 in the last year. The rate of incarceration for Aboriginal Tasmanians continues to increase under the Liberal Government. This is clearly not a system that provides rehabilitation to vulnerable Tasmanians or makes our community safer.
Average out-of-cell hours per day are the lowest in the country at 7.5. This is well below the national average of 9. Keeping people in their cells for most of the day is unacceptable and cruel, and has detrimental impacts on the welfare of people in prison.
The rate of prisoners assaulting other prisoners in custody increased and is the second highest in the country at 18.77 per 100 prisoners. This has more than doubled in the last decade. The Liberals are not keeping our streets or our prisons safe.
These figures should be a wake-up call for the Rockliff Government. It’s time for the Liberals to abandon their ineffective “tough on crime” agenda and instead implement a therapeutic, restorative justice system which is based on evidence.
