WARD SLAMS LABOR FOR CLOSING COMMUNITY JUSTICE CENTRES

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has used Question Time to call on NSW Labor to reverse its proposed closures of Community Justice Centre services across NSW including those services offered on the Illawarra and South Coast. 

Established by statute in 1983, the Community Justice Centres Act was introduced to provide alternative dispute resolution services free to the community.

Mr Ward has obtained documents which show that the NSW Government will close Community Justice Centres (CJC) and their mediation services from 1 July 2025.

Mr Ward used Question Time to call on the Premier to reverse these cuts. 

“DCJ’s own figures show that in 2022-23, 8,672 inquires were received by CJCs with 81% of non-court referred matters resolved and 68% of court matters referred being resolved. The CJC FREECALL 1800 line received 26,893 calls[1],” Mr Ward said.

“This service resolved 79% of neighborhood disputes, 83% of landlord/tenant disputes and 62% of workplace disputes.

“76% of matters were mediated within 60 days with 89% of people satisfied with the assistance the CJC provided in resolving the dispute. 

“This service helps reduce the already overwhelmed local court system and defunding this service will only add to delays.

“I call on the government to reverse these cuts,” Mr Ward concluded. 

ENDS.