Elder hits out over facilities.

Pilbara News 22nd January 2014.

Author - Peter de Kruijff.

Claims of overcrowded facilities, a lack of privacy and Onslow residents having to wait in the

heat for court appearances at a temporary court venue have been levelled by a concerned

resident.

Marditji Banjima elder Slim Parker has raised concerns over the use of the Department of

Child Protection office as the one-stop shop for Centrelink matters and video court hearings.

Court proceedings in the town have taken place every two months at the Onslow Police

Station since 1981, however the station has no video conference technology so video court

was held every alternate month at the Onslow Community Resource Centre.

However, with the closure of the centre in July last year and the suspension of conference

room hire on December 19, video courts could no longer be held there and were instead held

at the Department of Child Protection.

Mr Parker said the reception area of the Child Protection office was busy on any given day,

because it was also where residents had to undertake Centrelink business, but on a court day

the number of people in the building was tenfold.

With Onslow seeing some incredibly hot temperatures in January, Mr Parker said some of

the people waiting for court had to wait outside the office.

“People have no alternative but to sit in their cars or on the veranda in the heat,” he said.

While magistrate’s court is open to the public, Mr Parker said anyone at the reception

could hear private matters which would usually be held in a private room.

“I was at the counter doing my business, and the police are inside conducting a pre-court

interview with a mother and a juvenile and I’m overhearing the whole conversation they’re

having before they go to see the magistrate,” he said.

“We’re in 2014 and Onslow is booming, we’ve got the salt, we’ve got the petroleum on

our islands off the coast, BHP are here, Chevron are here … I don’t see a lot of change into

the community.

“I see changes in the industry, but not in terms of the community getting support perhaps

socially.”

Shire of Ashburton president Kerry White said while it appreciated servicing distant

locations was difficult, when residents found themselves in formal proceedings like the one

instanced, every practical effort should be made to provide suitable levels of privacy.

A Department of the Attorney-General spokeswoman said their department had been

planning its own video conference facilities for the precinct of the court at the Onslow Police

Station. “Later this financial year, portable AV facilities will become available in the court,”

she said.

“Between now and then, plans have been put into place so that an audio link can be made

from the court to a magistrate if need be.

“This arrangement will stay in place until the Onslow Community Resource Centre’s

facilities become available once again or until the Department’s own video conference

facilities become available at the court.”

Ms White said police and other government agencies did their best to maintain high levels

of service across WA.

“But it is obviously difficult to achieve in Onslow presently and we are looking forward to

video conferencing technology being available,” she said.