Elise Archer,Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
Major upgrades are underway at the Supreme Court in Hobart to allow for a more efficient court system while also stimulating Tasmania's building and construction sector.
The $300,000 project will enable criminal jury trials to occur in a courtroom traditionally used as a civil court, allowing the Supreme Court to better manage the backlog of criminal trials in more appropriate facilities.
Tasmanian company Walker Builders has been engaged for the first stage of the works, which will see the Court 1 jury room increase capacity from seven to twelve jurors, and provide better facilities and improved IT services for jurors.
Further stages of this redevelopment will include a new secure dock for accused persons in custody in Courts 1 and 2, improved seating for jurors in the court room, relocation of a witness box and more functional seating for security staff.
The work has been made possible through the allocation of $6 million to the Department of Justice from the Government's $50 million Public Buildings Maintenance Fund, announced as part of the COVID-19 stimulus package.
The current works are in addition to a separate project underway to improve disabled access at the Hobart Supreme Court.
