Attorney General John Hatzistergos should get his own house in order before attacking the DPP, Chair of the Coalition WasteWatch Committee Jonathan O’Dea said today.
“Mr Hatzistergos should first get his own house in order, with his own Department’s JusticeLink project having experienced both cost and time blow outs,” Mr O’Dea said.
“The very project that aims to reduce delays in local courts has suffered massive delays and cost blowouts, due to the NSW Labor Government’s failure, mismanagement and incompetence,” he said.
Volume Five of the NSW Auditor-General’s Financial Audit Report issued in late 2008 identified mismanagement in the JusticeLink tendering process, the design specifications and in meeting the needs of government agencies.
“It was estimated the project, which started eight years ago in 2001, would cost $30.3 million and be implemented by 2006. In 2008 it was estimated to cost $48.2 million, excluding costs to complete training and implementation. How much this project eventually costs is anybody’s guess,” Mr O’Dea said.
“Project after project has demonstrated delays and cost blowouts are this Government’s modus operandi,” he said.
Shadow Attorney-General Greg Smith SC said JusticeLink is an integrated multi-jurisdictional court administration system with web-based services for court users. It allows courts to automatically share details of all criminal matters with government agencies and other courts and aims to reduce delays in local courts.
“Some in the legal profession have questioned whether JusticeLink will deliver what has been promised by the State Labor Government,” Mr Smith said.
“Despite Labor presiding over this mismanaged project, the hypocritical Attorney-General, Mr Hatzistergos, has unfairly criticised the Director of Public Prosecutions for alleged financial mismanagement.
“There are real questions over whether JusticeLink will significantly reduce delays and be effective. Justice demands a government that can deliver worthwhile projects on time and on budget,” concluded Mr Smith.
