ACT sexual assault cases soar 80 per cent in six years
The number of sexual assault cases being heard in the ACT's courts system rose 80 per cent in six years, with a similar jump in domestic violence cases, leaving prosecutors under rising pressure to keep up.
A review of the territory's Department of Public Prosecutions resources has found the "alarming rate" of sexual assault matters was part of a wider trend of pressure on the territory's prosecutors, with criminal trials rising at nearly four times the rate of population growth.
The number of sexual assault and domestic violence cases begun in ACT courts rose from 75 in 2011-12 to 136 in 2016-17 and from 503 to 687, an increase the review team dubbed "alarming", rising 80 per cent for sexual assault matters and 36 per cent for domestic violence matters.
It comes as the territory joins the national redress scheme, with compensation for ACT victims of child sexual abuse expected to cost about $12 million over the next four years.
While the pressure has been felt across the justice system, the DPP has been particularly over-matched in recent years as the government has funded other parts of the system, like police and the courts, without a similar increase in resources for prosecutors.
Director of Public Prosecutions Jon White said the sexual assault and domestic violence cases had the biggest impact, mainly due to the Royal Commissions into child sexual abuse and increased reporting of domestic violence and child sexual abuse cases.
"It's also true that complainants in sexual offences cases are more inclined to come forward to police now and that's a very good thing, but it also means more cases are coming before the courts," he said.
The review also found the number of days prosecutors had spent in court for trials had risen from 293 in 2012-13 to 342 in 2016-17, and compounding the pressure was the fact the ACT was unique as the DPP here handled both serious inditable matters as well as lower-order summary cases.
"Together, these pressures have pushed the capacity of senior prosecutors within the DPP to the limit," the report reads.
The government has given the DPP $1 million extra in 2018-19, rising to $2.4 million in 2021-22, on top of funds for the department to work on confiscation of criminal assets cases, and extra funds to deal with more cases with a eighth magistrate.
The review was completed in December last year, and taken into account for the 2018-19 budget, but only recently publicly tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
Mr White said the funds would pay for more senior prosecutors to handle the more complex cases, with new appointments expected in coming weeks, though the DPP would need to have a "continuing conversation" with government about resources.
The review found the extra pressure from more courts operating and a planned move to bring Supreme Court listings down to five weeks could "push the DPP beyond its capacity".
While the government increased the department's funding in line with the review recommendations, it did not separate the DPP's funding from the general allocations given to the justice directorate.
Mr White said the directorate was taking funds off the top for "internal overheads".
"That is, as far as we're concerned money that would be better spent on prosecutions, rather than [directorate] overheads, and the government affirmed they were still looking at this issue," he said.
Mr White also said the DPP was hopeful the government would enact some legislative changes to allow "suitably qualified and trained" paralegals to do summary listing matters to free up junior prosecutors to work on more complex hearings.
Correction: This article previously said funding had been provided for a "fifth" magistrate. It has been corrected to reflect the funding was for an "eighth" magistrate.