JUSTICE ADVOCACY SERVICE
1087. Hon ALISON XAMON to the Leader of the House
representing the Attorney General:
I refer to the New South Wales
government's recent commitment to fund a justice advocacy service
designed to support victims, witnesses,
suspects and defendants with cognitive impairment to navigate the criminal
justice system.
(1) Apart from
the intellectual disability diversion program, what support is currently
available for people with cognitive impairment who come into contact with the
criminal justice system?
(2) Will the
Attorney General commit to funding a scheme similar to the New South Wales
model?
(3) If no to (2),
why not?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) Support in
the justice system for people with an intellectual disability or cognitive
impairment is achieved through a number of strategies that are delivered by a variety
of agencies, including the Intellectual Disability Diversion Program Court, the
Mental Health Court diversion and support program, the Mentally Impaired
Accused Review Board, the Disability Services division of the Department of
Communities, the Office of the Public Advocate, Legal Aid WA, the Aboriginal
Legal Service of WA and a number of other community and advocacy organisations.
When an individual is identified as having an intellectual disability or
cognitive impairment and is not currently registered with the Department of
Communities, the appropriate point of contact for the individual is the
Department of Communities. The department can initiate the eligibility process
and/or provide a referral pathway to the appropriate services to meet the needs
of the individual.
(2) No, not at
this time.
(3) It would be
premature to commit to funding a scheme to replicate the justice advocacy
service in New South Wales because that service has not yet been launched, let
alone evaluated. The government will monitor the implementation of the new
service model in New South Wales.