NSW Budget: More lawyers, prison guards, and victim support in justice system spend

A budget cash splash means more guards in NSW prisons, and courts will have stronger lawyer ranks, with special rooms to prevent domestic violence victims coming face-to-face with attackers. See the breakdown here.

The Minns government will pledge $500m to help victims and survivors, aid the courts and prisons. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

The state’s criminal justice system will get more lawyers to prosecute criminals, more prison guards to watch them on remand and special rooms in courthouses to prevent domestic violence victims coming face-to-face with their attackers, under a $500 million budget pledge.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the Minns government, while heralding a rise in the number of people on remand because of tough new domestic violence bail laws, is beefing up the correctives and justice systems in this month’s budget to handle the extra load.

Among the reforms is a $49.4 million hub to support victim-survivors participate in legal proceedings. The hub, which is expected to be operational by late 2027, will allow witnesses to provide evidence in court via remote video-link without having to come face-to-face with their alleged attackers.

Premier Chris Minns will boost funding to the state’s justice sectors to cater for an increased number of prisoners. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The hub will also provide legal aid, counselling and financial advice.

The government will also spend more than $100 million boosting the capacity of the state’s burgeoning prison system.

The latest data from the Bureau of Crime Statistics show the state’s adult prison population is at its highest in five years and the government expects the prison population to grow by 420 inmates in the 2026 financial year.

The funding will pay for 80 full-time Community Corrections staff to monitor both those on remand and in the community.

This comes after The Daily Telegraph reported in February that gridlock across the state’s jail system had led to “cell ramping”, with bail-refused inmates instead locked up in police holding cells for days due to a lack of resources in Corrections.

The package also includes $2.3 million to implement new reforms to the victims register which passed parliament last month. The reforms ensure victim-survivors of serious crimes receive a mandatory notification about their right to sign up as a registered victim, in order to receive critical information about an offender such as parole eligibility, release dates and location.

The Downing Centre local court will also get new courtrooms. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

The number of public prosecutors will also be getting a boost, with $48.3 million to fund an additional 30 solicitors to work through an increasing number of prosecutions.

Sydney’s local and district courts at the Downing Centre and John Maddison Tower in the CBD will receive a $34.5 million upgrade for five new physical courtrooms and 10 virtual courtrooms with audiovisual link facilities to support remote bail hearings.

Victim-survivors of domestic violence will also receive a major cash injection, including $227 million over five years for the victim support service. The service helps victims of violent crimes and their families access counselling and financial assistance.

Attorney-General Michael Daley said the funding was designed to expand the capacity of Sydney’s courts. Picture NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

More than $11 million will go towards the domestic and family violence support sector with more than $9.3 million to implement serious domestic abuse prevention orders.

Premier Chris Minns said the budget package was about making NSW “safer”.

“We will deliver new courtrooms and a unique new hub allowing vulnerable victim-survivors to testify from a different location than their perpetrator,” he said.

“This package is about building a safer NSW and better protecting victim-survivors.”

Attorney-General Michael Daley said that the reforms were designed to “expand the capacity of Sydney’s courts”, while Corrections Minister Anoulack Chanthivong said it was about keeping “those that should be off the streets behind bars, for the benefit of the whole community.

“This funding package for Corrections is about putting the needs of victim-survivors, and the safety of the community first, and we make no apologies for that,” Mr Chanthivong said.
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Originally published as NSW Budget: More lawyers, prison guards, and victim support in justice system spend