Labor says ceasing district court hearings in East Maitland Court House is a broken election promise.
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Wallsend MP and opposition spokeswoman for Hunter Sonia Hornery made the claim and cited comments Maitland MP Robyn Parker made in her 2011 election bid.
In the race to the polls, former Maitland MP Frank Terenzini and then attorney-general John Hatzistergos said the Coalition would cut Maitland court staff – to which Ms Parker responded, “it is just ridiculous”, in a Fairfax Media article.
“This was a pre-election promise from Ms Parker,” Ms Hornery said. “Is this the reason she is silent on the East Maitland Court House, because she dismissed the question prior to the election?”
The Office of the Chief Justice announced last month that there would be no more criminal hearings at East Maitland Court House from 2015 with cases to be heard in the new court complex in Newcastle.
But these hearings were moved to Newcastle last month, well ahead of schedule.
Ms Parker was unavailable for comment yesterday, but had previously pledged to write to the Office of Justice to see if the decision could be reversed.
Meanwhile, Labor has stopped short of a commitment to reinstate the East Maitland hearings if elected.
Labor candidate for Maitland Jenny Aitchison said her party had a good track record of decentralisation, unlike the Coalition.
“We are the ones that brought the Office of State Revenue here so of course we will look at it [East Maitland hearings] if elected,” she said.
Ms Aitchison said ending district court hearings in East Maitland was short-sighted given the strain Newcastle facilities were already under.
“Basically, what this comes down to, is the Liberals making cuts without proper planning,” she said.
The cuts to the court have resulted in a sharp decline in associated business.
“We had three baristas getting 20 hours a week and two apprentice chefs,” Carolyn Scott, owner of the Blackbird Artisan Cafe opposite the courthouse, said.
“Now we’ve had to cut back one apprentice position and only have two baristas getting eight hours a week each.”
East Maitland Court House will continue to host civil tribunals and has the scope to increase the number of matters heard.