Equal access to justice is a foundational principle of Australia’s legal system – but it’s not the reality in country towns | Gabrielle Chan
Navigating the legal system is confusing at the best of times. But in regional Australia, distance is turning some towns into justice deserts
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There is a beautiful wood-panelled courtroom in our local town. It was built in 1880 and sat until 1988. It is now home to the arts council, where wine and cheese is served in front of the dock for exhibitions. Sometimes I stand at the bench, dispensing justice in my own head.
Most of the weekly court list has moved to the larger towns of Young or Cootamundra. More serious matters are held further afield. This centralisation can have unintended consequences that raise the nature of the rule of law for rural communities.
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Law (Australia) | The Guardian
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