SA courts administration Julie-Anne Burgess resigns following report criticising mismanagement, bullying of sheriff’s officers

A senior public servant whose alleged gross mismanagement saw sheriffs bullied and harassed has resigned – and moved straight into another top job.

Chief Justice Chris Kourakis, left, gave his public support to State Courts Administrator Julie-Anne Burgess in parliament – she has now resigned. Picture: Dean Martin.

A senior public servant whom parliament accused of grossly mismanaging court sheriff’s officers to create a “festering” culture of bullying has resigned – and immediately moved to another lucrative, top-level post.

The Advertiser can reveal State Courts Administrator Julie-Anne Burgess has tendered her resignation to the Courts Administration Authority, and will leave the position in March.

Her departure follows a damning Statutory Authorities Committee report that recommended the CAA be stripped of its “despotic” power over the officers.

It also comes despite Supreme Court Chief Justice Chris Kourakis telling parliament that Ms Burgess had his full support, and his recommendation she be reappointed.

Meanwhile, a second senior staffer who, the report asserted, was an instigator of the systemic issues is also seeing a change in role – but to a more powerful position.

Despite accusations of poor management and harassment, the staffer will serve a six-week appointment during 2021 in charge of sheriffs at the Adelaide Magistrates Court.

The developments have dismayed, but not surprised, frontline sheriff’s officers who told The Advertiser it was “precisely what we expected”.

“You like to hope that things will change for the better, but the truth is this is how things have been since the 1990s,” an officer said.

“No one is really surprised … we’re not really sure what else we can do.”

Ms Burgess oversaw projects including the redevelopment of the courts precinct during her seven-year tenure.

Following a 19-month inquiry, the committee in November said the CAA’s “inconsistency and lack of accountability” had led to “significant adverse impacts” on officers’ wellbeing.

It recommended officers be placed under the control of the Department for Correctional Services so their status and rights as public servants receive “full protection”.

The committee criticised Ms Burgess, saying officers due to give evidence were subject to intimidation and threats that their department would be privatised.

“Confidential evidence showed (Ms) Burgess making decisions on the hours to be offered to sheriffs who had made a complaint which was still under investigation,” it said.

The next day, Chief Justice Kourakis said officers would get to vote on who oversees them as part of a two-step process to create a “respectful” workplace.

In a CAA email, obtained by The Advertiser, Chief Justice Kourakis says Ms Burgess “will be leaving on March 4 to take up another senior executive role in the SA government”.

He praises her work during her seven-year tenure, saying she has “led the delivery of considerable change” including the installation of online case management.

He says Ms Burgess also oversaw the redevelopment of the courts precinct, and undertook high-level future planning, despite “ever-decreasing budget allocations”.

“I congratulate Julie-Anne on her achievements, wish her well with her future career and thank her for her leadership and valued contribution to the CAA,” he says.

He says advertising for a successor “will commence shortly”.