President Ronan MacSweeney also highlighted the $23.8m slash in Legal Aid NSW’s funding
The Law Society of NSW has flagged the lack of investment into courthouses in the recently announced 2026-27 state budget.
President Ronan MacSweeney noted that the court system was granted just a “meagre” cut of the $116.7bn in state infrastructure investments through to 2030, despite courts’ need for modernisation especially in non-CBD areas. MacSweeney lauded the 50% budget increase for domestic and family violence services ($184m), but said this needed to be supported by safe court facilities.
“The previously announced enhancements to the Downing Centre are welcome, as are more resources for the Industrial Relations Commission and Land and Environment Court. Likewise, the significant investments in the state’s integrity agencies represent a positive step. But the state’s courthouses, particularly in communities away from major centres, are in dire need of upgrades, including safe rooms for victims of violent crime and more audio-visual link (AVL) facilities”, MacSweeney said.
The Law Society acknowledged the delivery of the budget in the face of international conflict, disruptions to supply chains and energy issues, but noted that just $3m was earmarked for court technology updates. By contrast, the NSW Police Force received $108.8m to upgrade its technology.
“We understand the need for this level of investment in the police, but inconsistent funding across the justice system creates bottlenecks that manifest in court delays and overcrowding in custody”, MacSweeney said. “Modern, well equipped courts system are central to ensuring the maintenance of public confidence in the justice system and the strengthening of the rule of law”.
He added that the Campbelltown-based “much needed and long heralded” South West Sydney Justice Precinct had been left out of the budget as well.
“As the Aerotropolis takes shape around Western Sydney International Airport, I note that the budget statement for Western Sydney provides for planning, building or upgrading 13 schools and five hospitals, with no mention of courts, which are no less crucial to the functioning of a community”, MacSweeney said.
He indicated that Youth Justice Centres also needed to be upgraded in line with increasing custody demand.
“The Law Society accepts that community safety will require that in extreme cases some young people be deprived of their liberty. But I urge the government to make more investments into early intervention and diversion programs that address the underlying drivers of anti-social and criminal conduct of young people”, MacSweeney said.
The NSW Law Society president highlighted the slashing of Legal Aid NSW’s recurrent funding by 3.6% ($23.8m) “at a time when it’s more important than ever that vulnerable people have access to fair legal assistance”. Last week, MacSweeney had penned a letter to attorney-general Michael Daley calling for the publication of a long-term, strategic access to justice plan that includes long-term justice infrastructure as well as sustainable and sure resourcing arrangements for legal assistance funding.
Nonetheless, MacSweeney praised the First Nations people-focused funding geared towards delivering on Closing the Gap commitments, enhancing housing in Aboriginal communities, and assisting families who face the risk of their children being put in out of home care.
