Following warnings last year that ACT prosecutors were under severe pressure, the ACT Government will invest $18.9 million in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The Budget funding will pay for 24 additional staff, including prosecutors and witness assistance officers.
Last year, the Australian Federal Police Association called for urgent extra funding for the DPP. President Alex Caruana said that the DPP — which handles complex and high-risk cases (including family violence, sexual offences, organised crime, and fraud — was being asked to do more with less each year. Caseloads were rising; there were not enough staff; and operational demands were increasing. As a result, staff were burning out, prosecutions were being delayed, and the quality and timeliness of case outcomes were under pressure — affecting police investigations and community safety.
Director of Public Prosecutions Victoria Engel said today: “There has been long term, sustained pressure on prosecution services – particularly in sexual offence and family violence matters – placing pressure on our team to deliver to a standard that we and the community rightly expect.”
Attorney-General Tara Cheyne MLA said the DPP was facing growing demand because the population was bigger and more people were reporting cases of family and sexual violence; the 2021 Listen. Take Action to Prevent, Believe and Heal report had made the public more aware.
The government says the funding will help the DPP deal with the growing number of complex cases, and provide better support for victims, witnesses and complainants, particularly in family and sexual violence matters.
“The ACT Budget helps alleviate this pressure, turning recent temporary measures into permanent funding and providing additional support,” Ms Engel said. “The role of my office is not just to prosecute matters fairly and effectively, but to do so in a way that respects and supports victims, witnesses and complainants throughout the process. This investment will help us do both.”
Treasurer Chris Steel MLA said: “A strong and functional DPP is an essential part of the Government’s comprehensive, victim-survivor centred approach to preventing and responding to violence.”
