The ABC brings word that Canberra’s magistrates have joined the queue of those wanting a pay rise from the ACT Government.
The ACT Government’s changes were designed to share the legal work load more evenly between the magistrates and supreme court jurisdictions.
But in a submission to the ACT Remuneration Tribunal, the magistrates say the result has been an extraordinary increase in their court’s jurisdiction both in civil and criminal practice.
The submission explains that magistrates are dealing with more cases and mounting workloads, since being given the power to punish criminals with up to five years in jail and dealing with civil claims up to $500,000.
The magistrates say their pay should now be closer to that of judges in state district courts.