Chief Magistrate calls for big improvements to remote courts
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The Chief Magistrate of the Northern Territory, Jenny Blokland, has delivered a scathing assessment of courtroom facilities in remote communities.
In her submission to the review of the federal intervention, the Chief Magistrate says at least two remote courtrooms in the Northern Territory must be shut down.
She says at the Mutitjulu courtroom, there are no facilities to protect vulnerable witnesses, no drinking water and the toilets are unhygenic.
Ms Blokland says at a sitting last year, staff tried to clean the Maningrida courtroom, but it stank of rotting food all day.
She says at the Papunya court, either there is no water or the water floods the floor, and the legal facilities urgently need to be relocated.
Ms Blokland says although more police have been committed as part of the intervention, no new court resources have been provided.
