Remote town wants return of court hearings

A remote town in Western Australia has called for the return of in-person court hearings after the service was suspended in July 2023.

Alleged family feuding, which left officials feeling unsafe, led to the suspension of justice in the remote community of Balgo, 3000 kms north-east of Perth.

But community members say the suspension has left them with no access to justice.

Before the suspension court officials would travel to Balgo once a month as part of the Kimberley court circuit to hear cases.

Locals have been forced to travel 250kms to Halls Creek to face court.

But the long distance travel over unsealed roads has led to many missing court.

“They can’t get there half of the time and then they miss [their court appearance] and there’s a warrant out for them,” Mick Hickey, co-chair of the Wirrimanu Aboriginal Corporation, told the ABC.

“It just doesn’t work.”

The Department of Justice said it would continue to monitor and review the situation in Balgo.