Report on Government Services 2015

Chapter 7, Volume C

Courts

The focus of the Courts chapter (chapter 7) of the Report on Government Services is the court administration functions of Australian and State and Territory courts.

Data are reported for the Federal Court, the Family Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit Court, the criminal and civil jurisdictions of the supreme courts (including probate registries), district/county courts, magistrates' courts (including children's courts), coroners' courts and the Family Court of WA.

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Key Facts
Indicator Framework
Indicator Results

In 2013-14, in the criminal jurisdiction of the supreme, district/county and magistrates' courts, approximately 843 100 cases were lodged, and 854 100 cases were finalised. In the civil jurisdiction of these same courts there were approximately 458 200 cases lodged and 477 200 cases finalised. In the Australian courts, approximately 117 000 cases were lodged, and approximately 114 300 cases finalised.

Total court administration recurrent expenditure less income (excluding fines) by the court authorities covered in this chapter was approximately $1.33 billion in 2013-14, comprising $1.1 billion for the State and Territory courts and $228.2 million for the Australian courts.

Common objectives for court services across Australia are: to be open and accessible; to process matters in an expeditious and timely manner; to provide due process and equal protection before the law; and to be independent yet publicly accountable for performance.

The performance indicator framework provides information on equity, efficiency and effectiveness, and distinguishes the outputs and outcomes of courts. The performance indicator framework shows which data are complete and comparable in the 2015 Report.

An overview of the Courts performance indicator results are presented. Information to assist the interpretation of these data can be found in the indicator interpretation boxes in the Courts chapter and attachment tables.

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Equity (access) indicators

Fees paid by applicants

Data for this indicator comparable, subject to caveats (chapter 7).

Average civil court fees collected per lodgment, 2013-14 ($).
	NSW	Vic	Qld	WA	SA	Tas	ACT	NT	Aus Gov	Aust
Supreme / Federal (excl. probate)	2981	1637	1911	2134	3064	703	2575	1762	3726	2512
District / County	1660	1811	950	974	1012	..	..	..	..	1374
Magistrates	149	218	123	118	117	78	197	59	..	154
Family courts	..	..	..	377	..	..	..	..	213	283
Fed Circuit Court	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	549	549

Legend: .. Not applicable
Source: Attachment table 7A.18.

Judicial officers

Data for this indicator comparable, subject to caveats (chapter 7).

Full time equivalent, 2013-14.
	NSW	Vic	Qld	WA	SA	Tas	ACT	NT	Aus Gov	Aust
Total number	264.2	245.3	152.2	123.6	72.0	20.8	13.0	24.4	159.2	1074.7
Number per 100 000 people	3.5	4.2	3.2	4.8	4.3	4.0	3.4	10.1	0.7	4.6

Source: Attachment table 7A.27.

Effectiveness (access) indicator

Backlog

Data for this indicator comparable, subject to caveats (chapter 7).

Criminal matters

Higher (appeal) — Percentage of lodgments pending completion as at 30 June — 2013-14.
	NSW	Vic	Qld	WA	SA	Tas	ACT	NT	Aus Gov	Aust
>12 months	3.3	7.4	7.2	5.2	8.6	5.9	3.7	9.1	..	..
>24 months	0.8	0.8	0.5	–	1.0	–	–	–	..	..

Legend: .. Not applicable; – Nil or rounded to zero
Source: Attachment tables 7A.19 and 7A.21.

Higher (non-appeal) — Percentage of lodgments pending completion as at 30 June — 2013-14.
	NSW	Vic	Qld	WA	SA	Tas	ACT	NT	Aus Gov	Aust
>12 months	19.3	17.3	13.1	6.8	19.6	26.4	17.6	2.8	..	..
>24 months	2.9	3.2	4.8	1.1	4.1	6.0	6.3	–	..	..

Legend: .. Not applicable; – Nil or rounded to zero
Source: Attachment tables 7A.19 and 7A.21.

Magistrates — Percentage of lodgments pending completion as at 30 June — 2013-14.
	NSW	Vic	Qld	WA	SA	Tas	ACT	NT	Aus Gov	Aust
>6 months	11.7	25.4	29.8	26.9	25.0	26.9	24.5	29.1	..	..
>12 months	1.7	7.8	12.2	8.3	9.0	11.8	6.7	11.0	..	..