Court sheriff’s officers’ strike vote threatens to close every court in South Australia

SA’s entire court system faces total shutdown as sheriff’s officers vote to strike - as it’s revealed the state’s judicial members all got a payrise in September.

South Australia’s justice system is on the brink of shuttering, with sheriff’s officers voting this morning to join their corrections colleagues in strike action.

Around 60 sheriffs officers, DPP lawyers and crown solicitors gathered outside the District Court on Thursday morning.

The sheriffs in attendance voted unanimously for a 24 hour work stoppage, which will shutter the Supreme, District, Magistrates and Coroners courts.

Public Service Association general secretary Charlotte Watson said the government had refused to listen to their concerns.

Ms Watson said she had a meeting scheduled with Tom Koutsantonis at 12.30 Thursday, which she hoped would result in a better pay deal and end the strike action.

“It’s frustrating that workers have had to take the step of walking out of their workplaces to address significant safety issues and pay that they quite frankly deserve,” she said.

Corrections officers have been on strike since Monday morning, with the action likely to continue until Friday.

Sheriffs officers gather in Victoria Square outside the courts building in the Adelaide CBD to vote on striking, and closing courts across SA. Picture: Aden Hill

Sheriff’s officers gather in Victoria Square outside the courts building in the Adelaide CBD to vote on striking, and closing courts across SA. Picture: Aden Hill

“While the SA justice system has been collapsing the Premier has been jetting off to Sydney to strut on the national stage,” Ms Watson said.

“We’ve warned the Premier the Corrections Officers, lawyers and Sheriffs who keep this state’s Justice System running have had enough of being ignored.

“If I were him I’d get on the next plane home and come at our stop work meeting to hear directly from our members.”

In December last year, The Advertiser revealed SA’s court sheriff’s officers were the lowest-paid in the country, earning 9 per cent less than their interstate colleagues.

The officers, none of whom earn more than $70,000 annually, were offered a pay rise of “up to 3 per cent” over three years.

At the same time, judges received 3.5 per cent rise, plus an extra $1000 for home security, and SA Police won a rise of up to 17.9 per cent.

When an officer wrote to CAA’s human resources, in the fourth quarter of 2024, to raise the issue, they received a reply that included a link to Foodbank.

The organisation provides affordable groceries and ready-made meals to those with a referral.

On September 1, Supreme Court Chief Justice Chris Kourakis was awarded a $13,920-per-year payrise by the Renumeration Tribunal.

That increased his annual wage from $579,720 to $593,640.

That figure does not include an annual $1254 payment to cover phone and internet use, nor a $1025 amount - payable in fortnightly installments - for personal security.

Chief Justice Kourakis is also entitled to an additional $1600 annual rebate for any security systems he installs.

Those benefits are also paid to all other members of the judiciary, each of whom also received wage increases in September.

Thursday’s strike comes as the Courts Administration Authority prepares to revive its controversial plan to abolish “point of entry exemption” cards and force all persons attending court to be searched and X-ray scanned.

For decades, police officers, prosecutors, lawyers and members of the media have been issued the cards, provided they have undergone a police check, which permits them to skip the queue and enter court freely.

Last year, the CAA floated the idea of abolishing the cards but then abandoned the idea after complaints from police and prosecutors, who pointed out potential safety issues.

They argued officers and prosecutors would be lining up with the very people they were pursuing in court, which could increase tensions and spark incidents.

Last month, the CAA announced a three-month “pilot program” would be conducted at the Adelaide Magistrates Court, during which all persons - including uniformed police - would have to submit to being searched and X-rayed.

Only uniformed emergency staff attending a critical incident would be exempted from the search.

Sheriff’s officers expressed dismay at the pilot, saying holding it over the Christmas and New Year period – traditionally the quietest time of the year for courts – will make the idea “look successful” and lead to its broader implementation across all courts.

Originally published as Court sheriff’s officers’ strike vote threatens to close every court in South Australia