Report on Government Services 2018

Part C, Chapter 7

Courts

The focus of this chapter 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 2016-17, in the criminal jurisdiction of the supreme, district/county, magistrates’ and children’s courts, approximately 825 202 cases were lodged, and 864 923 cases were finalised.

In the civil jurisdiction of these same courts approximately 436 333 cases were lodged and 440 523 cases finalised.

In the Australian courts, approximately 121 961 cases were lodged, and 117 027 cases finalised.

Total court administration recurrent expenditure less income (excluding fines) by the court authorities covered in this chapter was approximately $1.4 billion in 2016-17, comprising $1.2 billion for the State and Territory courts and $214.6 million for the Australian courts.

Courts aim to safeguard and maintain the rule of law and ensure equal justice for all. Court services support the courts and aim to encourage public confidence and trust in the courts by enabling them to:

be open and accessible
be affordable
process matters in a high quality, expeditious and timely manner.

Governments aim for court services to meet these objectives in an equitable and efficient manner.

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 2018 Report.

Indicator framework

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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Effectiveness — Access — Timeliness and delay indicators

Judicial officers

Number of FTE judicial officers, per 100 000 people, 2016-17

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats
	NSW	Vic	Qld	WA	SA	Tas	ACT	NT	Aus Gov	Aust
Supreme/Federal	0.7	0.9	0.5	0.9	0.8	1.4	1.6	3.4	0.2	1.0
District/County	0.9	1.0	0.7	1.1	1.1	..	..	..	..	0.9
Magistrates’	1.4	1.8	1.8	1.8	1.9	2.0	1.7	5.8	..	1.7
Children’s	0.4	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.7	..	0.2
Family	..	..	..	0.6	..	..	..	..	0.1	0.2
Federal Circuit	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	0.3	0.3
Coroners’	0.1	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.5	–	0.6	..	0.1
Total	3.5	4.1	3.3	4.7	4.2	4.2	3.6	10.6	0.6	4.4

Source: Attachment table 7A.24

Backlog

Percentage of criminal lodgments pending completion at 30 June 2017 (per cent)

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats
	NSW	Vic	Qld	WA	SA	Tas	ACT	NT	Aus Gov	Aust
Supreme (appeal) >12 months	0.7	2.4	12.2	10.4	10.7	17.6	24.7	25.0	..	..
Supreme (appeal) >24 months	–	0.5	2.5	3.6	6.6	–	3.7	–	..	..
Supreme (non-appeal) >12 months	31.9	25.6	10.7	10.0	12.8	29.0	14.7	10.5	..	..
Supreme (non-appeal) >24 months	9.2	15.1	2.5	3.7	–	8.9	3.0	1.3	..	..
District (appeal) >12 months	1.7	3.9	20.9	..	..	..	..	..	..	..
District (appeal) >24 months	0.2	0.6	8.3	..	..	..	..	..	..	..
District (non-appeal) >12 months	22.3	15.1	14.0	10.4	28.8	..	..	..	..	..
District (non-appeal) >24 months	5.4	2.6	4.3	1.2	9.8	..	..	..	..	..
Magistrates' >6 months	14.0	26.0	36.8	34.7	28.6	34.6	16.6	20.9	..	..
Magistrates' >12 months	1.7	9.5	16.7	11.9	9.2	12.6	5.3	7.2	..	..
Children's >6 months	16.7	14.3	24.1	16.7	11.8	16.3	22.6	20.1	..	..
Children's >12 months	1.6	3.8	9.5	4.7	5.1	5.4	6.6	8.0	..	..

Source: Attachment table 7A.17

Percentage of civil lodgments pending completion at 30 June 2017 (per cent)

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats
	NSW	Vic	Qld	WA	SA	Tas	ACT	NT	Aus Gov	Aust
Supreme (appeal) >12 months	8.7	12.8	1.4	26.6	25.2	18.3	29.7	18.8	12.4	..
Supreme (appeal) >24 months	1.6	3.0	0.7	6.4	3.9	5.6	16.2	1.4	2.1	..
Supreme (non-appeal) >12 months	32.7	36.5	23.7	34.4	31.8	36.2	27.8	28.4	36.9	..
Supreme (non-appeal) >24 months	13.2	19.1	7.0	12.0	13.2	9.8	8.9	7.8	20.9	..
District (appeal) >12 months	8.3	20.0	27.0	15.6	36.1	..	..	..	..	..
District (appeal) >24 months	–	–	17.5	1.3	2.8	..	..	..	..	..
District (non-appeal) >12 months	17.5	37.9	21.5	37.9	42.8	..	..	..	..	..
District (non-appeal) >24 months	3.7	18.6	4.1	13.6	21.2	..	..	..	..	..
Magistrates' >6 months	20.6	34.2	38.2	37.3	43.2	41.0	34.1	45.6	..	..
Magistrates' >12 months	1.0	24.8	8.2	8.3	11.5	12.4	9.4	18.1	..	..
Children's >6 months	35.6	24.0	40.4	48.5	9.8	20.3	30.2	18.0	..	..
Children's >12 months	14.6	10.5	14.8	16.6	0.5	10.2	11.3	3.1	..	..
Family (appeal) >12 months	..	..	..	–	..	..	..	..	19.2	..
Family (appeal) >24 months	..	..	..	–	..	..	..	..	2.9	..
Family (non-appeal) >12 months	..	..	..	32.5	..	..	..	..	32.3	..
Family (non-appeal) >24 months	..	..	..	10.1	..	..	..	..	14.4	..
Federal Circuit >6 months	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	39.4	..
Federal Circuit >12 months	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	18.2	..
Coroners >12 months	23.5	28.2	36.9	16.6	37.0	38.9	42.1	31.6	..	..
Coroners >24 months	9.9	10.5	16.6	6.4	13.1	15.5	20.7	23.3	..	..

Source: Attachment table 7A.18

Disposals

Percentage of criminal cases finalised during the year which took longer than 6, 12 or 24 months to finalise, 2016-17

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats
	NSW	Vic	Qld	WA	SA	Tas	ACT	NT	Aus Gov	Aust
Supreme (appeal) >12 mths	3.4	12.4	11.7	24.3	6.9	37.8	22.3	50.0	..	..
Supreme (appeal) >24 mths	–	1.1	1.0	2.4	–	10.8	2.1	–	..	..
Supreme (non-appeal) >12 mths	51.5	30.0	8.0	7.3	32.6	37.5	29.6	9.1	..	..
Supreme (non-appeal) >24 mths	9.9	0.8	1.2	1.7	2.3	11.7	4.2	2.7	..	..
District (appeal) >12 mths	11.8	2.4	16.8	..	..	..	..	..	..	..
District (appeal) >24 mths	2.0	0.1	6.7	..	..	..	..	..	..	..
District (non-appeal) >12 mths	73.0	17.4	7.6	13.5	22.8	..	..	..	..	..
District (non-appeal) >24 mths	40.2	3.3	2.0	1.1	7.4	..	..	..	..	..
Magistrates' >6 mths	12.3	25.5	17.1	17.1	30.1	40.8	24.0	16.0	..	..
Magistrates' >12 mths	1.7	9.3	6.7	7.2	12.6	15.2	7.8	5.9	..	..
Children's >6 mths	19.5	7.8	14.0	27.4	19.1	26.7	14.7	25.5	..	..
Children's >12 mths	2.9	2.2	4.7	7.4	6.6	8.5	4.6	6.7	..	..

Source: Attachment table 7A.19

Percentage of civil cases finalised during the year which took longer than 6, 12 or 24 months to finalise, 2016-17

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats
	NSW	Vic	Qld	WA	SA	Tas	ACT	NT	Aus Gov	Aust
Supreme (appeal) >12 mths	15.5	21.8	12.2	28.0	37.0	29.6	50.0	8.3	12.7	..
Supreme (appeal) >24 mths	2.5	1.1	2.4	4.2	3.7	18.3	26.0	2.8	1.0	..
Supreme (non-appeal) >12 mths	20.2	25.9	49.6	36.8	22.6	62.9	44.6	29.5	12.5	..
Supreme (non-appeal) >24 mths	7.8	10.1	7.4	10.6	7.4	15.0	14.0	10.1	6.2	..
District (appeal) >12 mths	9.4	3.1	12.2	16.5	16.7	..	..	..	..	..
District (appeal) >24 mths	–	1.5	4.1	4.6	1.9	..	..	..	..	..
District (non-appeal) >12 mths	37.8	48.0	58.0	30.7	52.0	..	..	..	..	..
District (non-appeal) >24 mths	8.7	10.3	5.5	10.5	28.1	..	..	..	..	..
Magistrates' >6 mths	38.7	4.6	31.5	24.0	46.3	46.7	15.8	17.5	..	..
Magistrates' >12 mths	2.7	1.6	25.3	19.6	33.3	13.0	6.6	1.8	..	..
Children's >6 mths	39.2	19.1	21.2	35.1	2.3	15.3	30.3	16.7	..	..
Children's >12 mths	8.8	5.7	7.3	20.2	0.2	3.4	11.1	0.4	..	..
Family (appeal) >12 months	..	..	..	–	..	..	..	..	24.7	..
Family (appeal) >24 months	..	..	..	–	..	..	..	..	5.6	..
Family (non-appeal) >12 months	..	..	..	21.8	..	..	..	..	6.5	..
Family (non-appeal) >24 months	..	..	..	6.0	..	..	..	..	2.7	..
Federal Circuit >6 months	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	23.5	..
Federal Circuit >12 months	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	10.0	..
Coroners >12 months	10.1	19.7	9.0	39.5	31.7	59.6	7.9	27.3	10.1	..
Coroners >24 months	2.0	6.1	2.7	4.7	4.5	17.5	4.3	6.9	2.0	..

Source: Attachment table 7A.20

Attendance

Average number of attendances per finalisation, criminal courts, 2016‑17

Most recent data for this measure are not comparable or complete
	NSW	Vic	Qld	WA	SA	Tas	ACT	NT	Aus Gov	Aust
Supreme	na	na	2.9	3.2	4.2	5.4	5.9	6.7	..	..
District/County	3.1	4.4	4.0	4.0	6.1	..	..	..	..	..
Magistrates'	2.7	2.6	3.5	2.7	4.2	4.2	4.1	3.3	..	..
Children's	3.9	2.0	4.0	4.1	4.3	4.9	4.7	5.3	..	..

Average number of attendances per finalisation, civil courts, 2016‑17

Most recent data for this measure are not comparable or complete
	NSW	Vic	Qld	WA	SA	Tas	ACT	NT	Aus Gov	Aust
Supreme/Federal	na	na	1.2	1.9	3.1	1.6	5.4	6.0	3.0	..
District/County	3.3	0.6	0.3	1.1	2.8	..	..	..	..	..
Magistrates'	0.9	1.2	1.2	0.8	1.1	1.2	2.1	1.3	..	..
Children's	4.8	1.8	3.6	5.0	2.8	4.8	8.7	4.3	..	..
Family	..	..	..	2.2	..	..	..	..	2.0	..
Federal Circuit	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	2.0	..
Coroners	6.8	1.5	4.8	2.7	1.3	3.1	7.1	1.0	..	..

Source: Attachment table 7A.21

Clearance

Finalisations divided by lodgments (multiplied by 100 to provide percentage), all matters, 2016‑17

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats
	NSW	Vic	Qld	WA	SA	Tas	ACT	NT	Aus Gov	Aust
Supreme/Federal	102.4	105.3	91.4	90.9	94.8	95.7	107.4	99.0	98.9	..
District/County	100.6	98.5	98.1	94.2	101.6	..	..	..	..	..
Magistrates'	102.5	111.1	100.1	103.5	103.1	95.3	79.9	109.4	..	..
Children’s	102.0	107.2	96.4	109.2	108.3	90.5	99.1	98.0	..	..
Family	..	..	..	92.3	..	..	..	..	97.8	..
Federal Circuit	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	95.4	..
Coroners	94.5	100.6	89.7	99.9	72.9	100.5	102.0	118.5	..

Source: Attachment tables 7A.22-23

Effectiveness — Access — Affordability indicators

Fees paid by applicants

Average civil court fees collected per lodgment, 2016-17 (dollars)

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats
	NSW	Vic	Qld	WA	SA	Tas	ACT	NT	Aus Gov	Aust
Supreme/Federal	3 818	2 110	2 282	2 646	2 941	710	3 092	2 525	2 661	2 780
District/County	1 899	1 889	1 059	1 213	1 055	..	..	..	..	1 535
Magistrates' (only)	217	227	122	155	134	86	271	18	..	185
Family	..	..	..	384	..	..	..	..	260	314
Federal Circuit	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	611	611
Probate ‑ Supreme	1 450	383	660	347	1 611	687	1 322	1 215	..	922

Source: Attachment table 7A.15

Efficiency indicators

Judicial officers per finalisation

Full time equivalent judicial officers divided by total finalisations (multiplied by 100), 2016-17

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats
	NSW	Vic	Qld	WA	SA	Tas	ACT	NT	Aus Gov	Aust
Supreme/Federal	0.70	0.89	0.44	0.70	0.95	0.55	0.64	1.06	0.79	0.72
District/County	0.36	0.55	0.29	0.37	0.48	..	..	..	..	0.40
Magistrates'	0.03	0.04	0.03	0.03	0.05	0.05	0.08	0.07	..	0.04
Children's	0.14	0.05	0.04	0.05	0.07	0.10	0.20	0.07	..	0.07
Family	..	..	..	0.10	..	..	..	..	0.16	0.13
Federal Circuit	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	0.07	0.07
Coroners	0.09	0.14	0.16	0.16	0.11	0.48	0.05	0.45	..	0.14
Total	0.07	0.07	0.05	0.06	0.08	0.08	0.13	0.11	0.12	0.07

Source: Attachment table 7A.25

Full time equivalent staff (FTE) per finalisation

Full time equivalent staff divided by total finalisations (multiplied by 100), 2016-17

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats
	NSW	Vic	Qld	WA	SA	Tas	ACT	NT	Aus Gov	Aust
Criminal courts	0.6	0.4	0.3	0.4	0.7	0.5	1.1	0.5	..	0.5
Civil courts	0.6	0.6	0.4	0.6	0.6	0.5	1.3	0.6	5.4	0.6
Family courts	..	..	..	0.9	..	..	..	..	1.0	1.0
Federal Circuit	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	0.6	0.6
Coroners	0.7	1.3	1.2	1.3	1.2	1.0	1.5	1.5	..	1.1
Total	0.6	0.5	0.3	0.5	0.7	0.5	1.2	0.6	0.9	0.5

Source: Attachment table 7A.26

Cost per finalisation

Total recurrent expenditure (minus income) divided by total finalisations, criminal, 2016-17 (dollars)

Most recent data for this measure are not comparable but are complete, subject to caveats
	NSW	Vic	Qld	WA	SA	Tas	ACT	NT	Aus Gov	Aust
Supreme	40 666	61 600	7 152	25 348	32 294	16 601	29 261	23 980	..	21 058
District/County	6 846	16 496	7 160	16 885	9 657	..	..	..	..	9 703
Magistrates'	562	547	438	639	828	494	1 348	994	..	563
Children's	881	230	810	553	546	682	2 473	863	..	574

Source: Attachment table 7A.27

Total recurrent expenditure (minus income) divided by total finalisations, civil, 2016-17 (dollars)

Most recent data for this measure are not comparable but are complete, subject to caveats
	NSW	Vic	Qld	WA	SA	Tas	ACT	NT	Aus Gov	Aust
Supreme/Federal	4 264	7 681	5 223	12 085	4 790	4 567	5 550	17 164	14 125	7 978
District/County	2 602	3 721	1 629	2 256	3 009	..	..	..	..	2 661
Magistrates'	228	319	304	453	202	261	1 289	903	..	314
Children's	868	2 455	793	1 699	1 354	639	4 598	1 188	..	1 460
Family	..	..	..	1 649	..	..	..	..	2 273	2 011
Federal Circuit	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	971	971
Coroners	1 123	2 105	2 052	2 774	1 781	2 156	2 985	2 873	..	1 904

Source: Attachment table 7A.28

Notes

These data and caveats for these data are available in Chapter 7 and Attachment 7A.

na Not available. .. Not applicable. – Nil or rounded to zero.