NATIONAL media splashed images of the new Taree Courthouse in newspapers and on televisions as fugitive Malcolm Naden was captured in a remote area west of Gloucester during March.
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Media crews swarmed on the $5 million building in Albert Street to try to capture graphic images of a restrained Naden being delivered by police to the court. He was subsequently charged with the murder of 24-year-old Kristy Scholes, two counts of aggravated indecent assault on a 15-year-old girl at Dubbo in 2004 and shoot with intent to murder a police officer.
The high profile policing event proved to be a trial by fire for the new courthouse and it revealed the courthouse to be an effective conduit of the justice process.
Naden thrust the new facility into a harsh media spotlight but yesterday, it was given a softer introduction to the community at its official opening by the Attorney General of NSW, Greg Smith and the member for Myall Lakes, Stephen Bromhead.
Numerous members of the Manning Valley legal fraternity and political representatives milled in the foyer of the modern building, including solicitors Merrick Spicer, Michael Jones, Peter North, Raymond Drake, Mishi Yarovy, Michael Giles and Paul Couch, Greater Taree City Council mayor, Paul Hogan and past registrars Frances Breen, Paul Bylos and Paul Couch.
The traditional owners of the land, the Biripi people were acknowledged by the master of ceremonies, the Director General of the Department of Attorney General and Justice, Laurie Glanfield AM before he opened the floor to co-guest speakers, Stephen Bromhead and Greg Smith.
In a colourful address to the crowd of about 60 people, Mr Bromhead described the opening as “a bit like the Twilight Zone”.
“Robert Smith opened the original courthouse 130 years ago. Today Greg Smith also opens the new courthouse. Indeed 130 years ago Robert Smith said there would be a new palace of justice and 130 years on, we now have a palace of justice,” Mr Bromhead said.
The “palace of justice” as labelled by Mr Bromhead, is a project that took more than 14 months to complete and included the construction of a two-storey building and the refurbishment of the heritage court.
Attorney General Greg Smith said the new courthouse would lead to more “just outcomes”.
“But for all their architectural brilliance, the courts of the Barnet era were more about grandeur than functionality and they didn’t contain much in the way of facilities for victims of crime, witnesses, jurors and people with a disability,” Mr Smith said.
“It’s only over time that our justice system has come to appreciate the needs of various court participants and to realise that providing them with facilities and support can actually lead to more ‘just’ outcomes.
“It takes courage for victims of crime to testify and if they feel they aren’t being looked after in court, there is a risk that they won’t proceed with their evidence and the case will fall over.
“Our jurors give up their time to perform an important civic duty.
The decisions they make about whether an accused is guilty or not guilty have a profound impact on many people’s lives. By providing jurors with more comfortable facilities, we are helping to ensure that they remain alert during a trial and are in the best possible position to assess the evidence and deliver a carefully considered verdict.
“We recognise the people of Taree are proud of their historic courthouse, which is one of the city’s most significant landmarks and that is why the government has refurbished the building with respect for its heritage values.
“Acknowledging and preserving an important piece of Taree’s history is important but of equal and importance is providing additional court facilities that will meet the city’s needs for now and for the future.
“If justice is the first requisite of civilisation, then Taree is very civilised indeed.”