Recently, and without warning, it was revealed Bairnsdale and Sale courts will now be closed to the public on non-sitting days, which will be a great inconvenience to many in the community.
Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull and Shadow Attorney, Michael O’Brien, slammed the move which is a direct result of budget cuts.
Mr Bull explained how this would impact the community.
“Up until now the court staff handled a variety of enquiries from the general public on these days. It could be anything from filing documents, enquiries from people who are self-defending because they cannot afford a lawyer wanting information on how the court operates, discussing privacy matters with clerks and a myriad of other reasons.
“As a result of this funding cut, the courts will now only be open on sitting days and that is when the clerks are already very busy dealing with the daily court list and associated issues,” he said.
Mr O’Brien added, “the Labor government is ripping over $100 million out of the courts because it can’t manage money. These cuts mean 10 closed courts in the regions and less access to justice for people in country areas.
“People in Mallacoota who want information on a set day, shouldn’t have to drive to Morwell because courts in Bairnsdale and Sale are closed due to budget cuts.
“Premier Allan is making regional Victorians pay for her bad financial decisions. We call on Labor to properly fund our courts so that every Victorian can get local access to justice,” he said.
Court Services Victoria has been ordered to find over $106 million in savings over the next four years, starting with $26.1 million in 2025-26.
Mr Bull said local solicitors had also flagged concerns of the impacts of these cutbacks, which are reminiscent of what DEECA has done, in closing its offices on specific days.
“It is all a case of having a government in so much debt it has to cut services to people to pay its bill, which is heading to $192 billion with interest repayments alone of $28 million per day,” he said.
Caption: Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, with Shadow Attorney General, Michael O’Brien, discussing the cuts to Bairnsdale and Sale court services.

Monday, 25 August 2025