Thursday 21 November 2024
Labor set to slug court users again
The cost of justice is set to soar even higher in Victoria after the Allan Labor Government confirmed every single court fee is being reviewed.
Labor’s Stage One review saw Supreme Court Probate Office fees jump by up to 650 per cent as a revenue raising exercise following Labor budget cuts to the courts.
Departmental officials today confirmed at Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) that the Stage Two review will assess every other court and tribunal fee.
Tellingly, officials would not rule out that the Stage Two review could see increases of 650 per cent or more repeated across the board.
Shadow Attorney-General, Michael O’Brien, said: “Victorians are being forced to pay for Labor’s economic incompetence.
“Grieving Victorian families are being slugged by Labor’s massive hikes to probate fees: effectively a new death tax. Now, every other court and tribunal fee is under review.
“Given Labor is keeping secret the Deloitte assessment that led to the probate fee hikes, it is fair to think that every other court fee will face similar increases.
“The cost of justice in Victoria is already prohibitive for many. New fee increases will only make justice less accessible.
“Labor cannot manage money, cannot manage our courts and Victorians are paying the price.”