{"id":"courts-administration-act-1993","name":"Courts Administration Act 1993","slug":"courts-administration-act-1993","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"sa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":31840,"registerId":"sa-courts-administration-act-1993-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Courts Administration Act 1993","content":"South Australia\nCourts Administration Act 1993\nAn Act to provide for the administration of courts.\n\nContents\nPart 1—Preliminary\n1\tShort title\n3\tObjects of this Act\n4\tInterpretation\n5\tCollective name\nPart 2—The Judicial Council\nDivision 1—Establishment of Judicial Council\n6\tJudicial Council\nDivision 2—Composition of the Council\n7\tComposition of the Council\nDivision 3—Proceedings of the Council\n8\tMeetings of the Council\n9\tProcedures of the Council\nDivision 4—Functions and powers of the Council\n10\tResponsibilities of the Council\n11\tPowers of the Council\n12\tDelegation\nDivision 5—Council's obligation to report\n14\tCouncil to provide reports to Attorney‑General\nPart 3—Control of property\n15\tControl of property\nPart 4—Staff of the Council\nDivision 1—The State Courts Administrator\n16\tState Courts Administrator\n17\tFunctions and powers of Administrator\n17A\tDelegation\nDivision 2—Senior staff of the Council\n18\tAppointment of senior staff\n19\tDisciplinary action and termination of employment\nDivision 3—Other staff\n21\tOther staff\nDivision 4—General provisions as to staff\n21A\tNon-judicial court staff\n21B\tApplication of Public Sector Act and Superannuation Act\n22\tResponsibility of staff\n23\tCommissioner to consult with Council\nPart 4A—Reporting\n23A\tAnnual report\nPart 5—Financial provisions\n24\tMoney required for purposes of this Act\n25\tCouncil's budget\n26\tFinancial management\n27\tAudit\nPart 5A—Responsibilities of jurisdictional head\n27A\tInterpretation\n27B\tApplication of Part\n27C\tResponsibilities of jurisdictional head\nPart 6—Miscellaneous\n28A\tSpecial provisions in relation to publication of judicial decisions\n29\tResponsibility to Parliament\n30\tRegulations\n31\tNon-interference with individual powers or discretions\nSchedule—Transitional provision\nLegislative history\n\nThe Parliament of South Australia enacts as follows:\nPart 1—Preliminary\n1—Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Courts Administration Act 1993.\n3—Objects of this Act\nThe objects of this Act are—\n\t(a)\tto establish the State Courts Administration Council as an administrative authority independent of control by executive government;\n\t(b)\tto confer on the Council power to provide courts with the administrative facilities and services necessary for the proper administration of justice.\n4—Interpretation\nIn this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—\nAdministrator means the State Courts Administrator appointed under this Act;\nCouncil means the State Courts Administration Council established under this Act;\nparliamentary committee means a committee of either or both Houses of Parliament;\nparticipating courts means—\n\t(a)\tthe Supreme Court; and\n\t(b)\tthe District Court; and\n\t(ba)\tthe Environment, Resources and Development Court; and\n\t(c)\tthe Youth Court of South Australia; and\n\t(d)\tthe Magistrates Court; and\n\t(e)\tthe Coroner's Court; and\n\t(f)\tany other court or tribunal declared by regulation to be a participating court;\nprescribed position means a position on the staff of the Council designated by regulation as a prescribed position;\nsenior staff of the Council means those members of the staff of the Council holding prescribed positions.\n5—Collective name\nThe Council, the Administrator and the other staff of the Council may be collectively referred to as the Courts Administration Authority.\nPart 2—The Judicial Council\nDivision 1—Establishment of Judicial Council\n6—Judicial Council\n\t(1)\tThe State Courts Administration Council is established.\n\t(2)\tThe Council is a body corporate.\n\t(3)\tThe Council is an instrumentality of the Crown.\n\t(4)\tA document apparently bearing the Council's common seal will, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, be taken to have been duly executed by the Council.\nDivision 2—Composition of the Council\n7—Composition of the Council\n\t(1)\tThe Council consists of—\n\t(a)\tthe Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; and\n\t(b)\tthe Chief Judge of the District Court; and\n\t(c)\tthe Chief Magistrate of the Magistrates Court; and\n\t(d)\tthe Judge of the Youth Court, appointed by the Governor in accordance with subsection (1a); and\n\t(e)\tthe State Coroner, appointed by the Governor in accordance with subsection (1a); and\n\t(f)\tthe Senior Judge of the Environment, Resources and Development Court, appointed by the Governor in accordance with subsection (1a); and\n\t(g)\t2 members appointed by the Governor with the concurrence of the members referred to in the preceding paragraphs (being persons with extensive experience in human resources management, finance or public administration).\n\t(1a)\tA person appointed to an office referred to in subsection (1)(d), (e) or (f) may only be appointed as a member of the Council—\n\t(a)\ton the written request of the person; and\n\t(b)\twith the concurrence of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.\n\t(1b)\tA person who is, or who was within the 2 years immediately preceding appointment, the Administrator or a member of the staff of the Council cannot be appointed as a member of the Council under subsection (1)(g).\n\t(1c)\tA member of the Council appointed under subsection (1)(g) holds office on conditions, and for a term (not exceeding 5 years), specified in the instrument of appointment (but, on completion of a term of appointment, is eligible for reappointment).\n\t(1d)\tThe Governor may, with the concurrence of the members referred to in subsection (1)(a), (b) and (c), appoint a person to be the deputy of a member of the Council appointed under subsection (1)(g) (and the deputy may act as a member of the Council during any period of absence of the member in relation to whom the deputy has been appointed).\n\t(1e)\tThe office of a member of the Council appointed under subsection (1)(d), (e) or (f) becomes vacant if the member—\n\t(a)\tceases to be the Judge of the Youth Court, State Coroner or Senior Judge of the Environment, Resources and Development Court (as the case requires); or\n\t(b)\tis removed from office by the Governor at the request of the Chief Justice; or\n\t(c)\tresigns by written notice to the Governor.\n\t(1f)\tThe office of a member of the Council appointed under subsection (1)(g) becomes vacant if the member—\n\t(a)\tdies; or\n\t(b)\tcompletes a term of office and is not reappointed; or\n\t(c)\tresigns by written notice to the Governor; or\n\t(d)\tis convicted of—\n\t(i)\tan indictable offence against the law of this State; or\n\t(ii)\tan offence against the law of this State that is punishable by imprisonment for a term of at least 12 months; or\n\t(iii)\tan offence against the law of another jurisdiction that, if committed in this State, would be an offence of a kind referred to in a preceding paragraph; or\n\t(e)\tis sentenced to imprisonment for an offence (whether against a law of this State or another jurisdiction); or\n\t(f)\tis removed from office by the Governor under subsection (1g).\n\t(1g)\tThe Governor may remove a member of the Council appointed under subsection (1)(g) from office—\n\t(a)\tfor misconduct or conduct that brings the Council into disrepute; or\n\t(b)\tfor breach of, or non-compliance with, a condition of appointment; or\n\t(c)\tif the member has become bankrupt or has applied to take the benefit of a law for the relief of insolvent debtors; or\n\t(d)\tif the member has been disqualified from managing corporations under Chapter 2D Part 2D.6 of the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth; or\n\t(e)\tif the member has, because of mental or physical incapacity, failed to carry out duties of the position satisfactorily; or\n\t(f)\tfor incompetence or neglecting the duties of the position; or\n\t(g)\tany other reason the Governor thinks fit.\n\t(1h)\tA member of the Council appointed under subsection (1)(g) is a senior official for the purposes of the Public Sector (Honesty and Accountability) Act 1995.\n\t(2)\tA member of the Council (other than a member appointed under subsection (1)(g)) may appoint a judicial officer of the relevant court to be an associate member of the Council.\n\t(3)\tAn associate member of the Council is a deputy of the member by whom the associate member was appointed and may, in the absence of that member, act as a member of the Council.\n\t(4)\tAn associate member of the Council is entitled to attend meetings of the Council but, except when acting in the absence of a member, is not entitled to a vote on any question before the Council.\nDivision 3—Proceedings of the Council\n8—Meetings of the Council\nThe Council will meet at such times and places as may be determined by the Chief Justice.\n9—Procedures of the Council\n\t(1)\tThe Chief Justice or, in the Chief Justice's absence, the Chief Justice's deputy, will preside at any meeting of the Council.\n\t(2)\tThe Chief Justice or, in the Chief Justice's absence, the Chief Justice's deputy, and 2 other members of the Council (1 of whom must be a member of the Council other than a member appointed under section 7(1)(d), (e), (f) or (g)) constitute a quorum of the Council.\n\t(3)\tA decision supported by the votes of the Chief Justice or, in the Chief Justice's absence, the Chief Justice's deputy and 2 other members of the Council (1 of whom must be a member of the Council other than a member appointed under section 7(1)(d), (e), (f) or (g)) is a decision of the Council.\nDivision 4—Functions and powers of the Council\n10—Responsibilities of the Council\n\t(1)\tThe Council is responsible for providing, or arranging for the provision of, the administrative facilities and services for participating courts that are necessary to enable those courts and their staff properly to carry out their judicial and administrative functions.\n\t(2)\tA participating court remains, however, responsible for its own internal administration.\n\t(3)\tThe Council may establish administrative policies and guidelines to be observed by participating courts in the exercise of their administrative responsibilities.\n\t(4)\tAny such administrative policies and guidelines must be published in the annual report for the financial year in which they are established.\n11—Powers of the Council\n\t(1)\tSubject to subsection (2), the Council has the powers of a natural person and may for example—\n\t(a)\tenter into any form of contract or arrangement;\n\t(b)\tacquire, hold, deal with and dispose of real and personal property;\n\t(c)\tprovide services on terms and conditions determined by the Council.\n\t(2)\tThe Council may not, without the Governor's consent—\n\t(a)\tincur contractual liabilities exceeding a limit fixed by regulation for the purposes of this section; or\n\t(b)\tenter into a contract of a class prescribed by regulation for the purposes of this section; or\n\t(c)\tacquire or dispose of an interest in real property.\n\t(3)\tThe Council must, before entering into a transaction of a class prescribed by regulation for the purposes of this subsection, observe the appropriate procedures prescribed by regulation.\n12—Delegation\n\t(1)\tThe Council may, by instrument in writing, delegate any of its powers under this or any other Act.\n\t(2)\tA delegation of power under this section—\n\t(a)\tis revocable at will; and\n\t(b)\tdoes not derogate from the power of the Council to act itself in any matter.\n\t(3)\tA delegation must be reported in the annual report for the financial year in which the delegation is made.\nDivision 5—Council's obligation to report\n14—Council to provide reports to Attorney‑General\n\t(1)\tThe Council must make such reports to the Attorney-General as may be necessary to ensure that the Attorney-General is kept properly informed about the administration of the participating courts.\n\t(2)\tThe Council must, at the request of the Attorney-General, report to the Attorney-General on any matter relevant to the administration of a participating court.\nPart 3—Control of property\n15—Control of property\n\t(1)\tAll courthouses and other real and personal property of the Crown set apart for the use of the participating courts is under the care, control and management of the Council.\n\t(2)\tThe Council may assign a courthouse or other building that is under the Council's care, control and management for the use of a particular court.\n\t(3)\tA courthouse or other building will be taken to have been set apart for the use of participating courts if—\n\t(a)\tit is dedicated or reserved for use as a courthouse under a law governing the administration or use of Crown property; or\n\t(b)\tit is set apart for the use of participating courts by proclamation under this section.\n\t(4)\tThe Governor may, by proclamation—\n\t(a)\tset apart a courthouse or building belonging to the Crown for the use of participating courts; or\n\t(b)\tvary or revoke a proclamation previously made under this subsection.\n\t(5)\tA proclamation may be conditional or unconditional, and, if conditional, will be subject to such conditions as the Governor thinks fit to include.\nPart 4—Staff of the Council\nDivision 1—The State Courts Administrator\n16—State Courts Administrator\n\t(1)\tThere is to be a State Courts Administrator.\n\t(2)\tThe Administrator is to be appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Council for a term, not exceeding five years, specified in the instrument of appointment (but, on completion of a term of appointment, is eligible for reappointment).\n\t(3)\tThe Administrator is to be appointed on terms and conditions determined by the Governor which must, however, include the following:\n\t(a)\tthe Administrator must inform the Council in writing of—\n\t(i)\tany direct or indirect interest that the Administrator has or acquires in any business, or in any body corporate carrying on business, in Australia or elsewhere; or\n\t(ii)\tany other direct or indirect interest that the Administrator has or acquires that conflicts or may conflict with the Administrator's duties; and\n\t(b)\tthe Administrator must not engage, without the Council's consent, in any other remunerated employment.\n\t(5)\tThe Administrator cannot be dismissed from office or reduced in status except with the concurrence of the Council.\n\t(7)\tThe Council may assign an appropriate employee to act as the Administrator—\n\t(a)\tduring a vacancy in the office of Administrator; or\n\t(b)\twhen the Administrator is absent from, or unable to discharge, official duties.\n17—Functions and powers of Administrator\n\t(1)\tThe Administrator is the Council's Chief Executive Officer.\n\t(2)\tThe Administrator is, subject to control and direction by the Council, responsible to the Council for—\n\t(a)\tthe control and management of the Council's staff; and\n\t(b)\tthe management of property that is under the Council's care, control and management.\n17A—Delegation\n\t(1)\tThe Administrator may, by instrument in writing, delegate a power or function under this Act—\n\t(a)\tto a particular person or committee; or\n\t(b)\tto the person for the time being performing particular duties or holding or acting in a particular position.\n\t(2)\tA power or function delegated under this section may, if the instrument of delegation so provides, be further delegated.\n\t(3)\tA delegation—\n\t(a)\tmay be absolute or conditional; and\n\t(b)\tdoes not derogate from the power of the delegator to act personally in a matter; and\n\t(c)\tis revocable at will.\nDivision 2—Senior staff of the Council\n18—Appointment of senior staff\nThe senior staff of the Council are to be appointed by the Administrator with the approval of the Council.\n19—Disciplinary action and termination of employment\nThe Council's consent is required before—\n\t(a)\tdisciplinary action may be taken against a member of the Council's senior staff; or\n\t(b)\tthe employment of a member of the senior staff may be terminated.\nDivision 3—Other staff\n21—Other staff\nOther staff of the Council are to be appointed by the Administrator.\nDivision 4—General provisions as to staff\n21A—Non-judicial court staff\n\t(1)\tThe staff of the Council includes—\n\t(a)\tthe Registrars of the participating courts; and\n\t(b)\tthe Sheriff; and\n\t(c)\tthe Registrar of Probates; and\n\t(d)\tthe Youth Justice Co-ordinators (who are not Magistrates); and\n\t(e)\tany deputies of the officers referred to above; and\n\t(f)\tthe other non-judicial officers and staff of the participating courts.\n\t(2)\tThis Act has effect in addition to, and does not derogate from, any provisions of another Act providing for the appointment of, or otherwise specifically relating to, officers or staff referred to in subsection (1).\n21B—Application of Public Sector Act and Superannuation Act\n\t(1)\tThe Administrator and the staff of the Council are not Public Service employees.\n\t(2)\tEmployment of a person as a member of the staff of the Council is declared to be employment to which Part 7 of the Public Sector Act 2009 applies and a person so employed is to be treated as a public sector employee, employed by the Administrator, for the purposes of that Act and the Public Sector (Honesty and Accountability) Act 1995.\n\t(3)\tThe regulations may exclude or modify the application of a provision of Part 7 of the Public Sector Act 2009 to employment of the staff of the Council.\n\t(4)\tSection 9(1) of the Public Sector Act 2009 does not apply to employees holding prescribed positions or the senior staff of the Council.\n\t(4a)\tDirections may not be given under section 10 of the Public Sector Act 2009 to the Council or the Administrator.\n\t(5)\tThe Superannuation Act 1988 applies to a member of the Council's staff in the same way as to a person employed in the Public Service.\n22—Responsibility of staff\nA member of the Council's staff is answerable, through any properly constituted administrative superior, for the proper discharge of his or her duties to—\n\t(a)\tthe Administrator; and\n\t(b)\tif the position relates to a particular participating court—the judicial head of that participating court.\n23—Commissioner to consult with Council\n\t(1)\tThe Commissioner for Public Sector Employment must consult with the Council before making a determination or giving an instruction that relates specifically to the Council's staff.\n\t(2)\tThe Council—\n\t(a)\tmay vary or revoke a determination or instruction of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment so far as it affects staff of the Council; and\n\t(b)\tmay itself exercise any power of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment to make a determination or to give an instruction in relation to the Council's staff,\n(but a determination affecting remuneration or conditions of employment cannot be made, varied or revoked under this subsection).\nPart 4A—Reporting\n23A—Annual report\n\t(1)\tThe Administrator must on or before 31 October in each year make a report to the Attorney‑General on the work of the Courts Administration Authority during the previous financial year.\n\t(2)\tWithout limiting the matters that may be included in an annual report, an annual report must contain—\n\t(a)\tinformation setting out any significant achievements during the relevant financial year; and\n\t(b)\tinformation detailing significant future initiatives that are being developed or will be implemented; and\n\t(c)\tinformation detailing any developments in human resource management within the Courts Administration Authority; and\n\t(d)\tinformation detailing any significant occupational health, safety and welfare issues arising during the relevant financial year; and\n\t(e)\tinformation relating to workers' compensation and rehabilitation (if any) occurring during the relevant financial year; and\n\t(f)\tinformation setting out the training and development initiatives provided or offered to staff employed by the Courts Administration Authority during the relevant financial year; and\n\t(g)\tany recommendations the Courts Administration Authority, the Council or the Administrator wishes to make relating to changes to the law and procedures of the participating courts that may be necessary or desirable to improve the administration of justice in participating courts; and\n\t(h)\tinformation setting out—\n\t(i)\tthe number of times the Sheriff applied to have a person excused from jury service; and\n\t(ii)\tthe number of times a person was excused from jury service,\nin accordance with section 16A of the Juries Act 1927 during the previous financial year.\n\t(3)\tAn annual report must include—\n\t(a)\ta report from—\n\t(i)\tthe Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; and\n\t(ii)\tthe Chief Judge of the District Court; and\n\t(iii)\tthe Chief Magistrate of the Magistrates Court; and\n\t(iv)\tthe Judge of the Youth Court,\non the operations of their respective Courts; and\n\t(b)\ta report from the Sheriff on the operations of the Sheriff and security officers (within the meaning of the Sheriff's Act 1978),\nduring the previous financial year.\n\t(4)\tThe Attorney‑General must within 12 sitting days after receiving a report under this section cause copies of the report to be laid before both Houses of Parliament.\nPart 5—Financial provisions\n24—Money required for purposes of this Act\nThe money required for the purposes of this Act is to be paid out of money appropriated by Parliament for those purposes.\n25—Council's budget\n\t(1)\tThe Council must, from time to time, prepare and submit to the Attorney-General a budget showing estimates of its receipts and expenditures for the next financial year or for some other period determined by the Attorney-General.\n\t(2)\tThe budget must conform with any requirements of the Attorney-General as to its form and the information that it is to contain.\n\t(3)\tThe Attorney-General may approve a budget submitted under this section with or without modification.\n\t(4)\tThe Council may not expend money unless provision for the expenditure is made in a budget approved by the Attorney-General under this section.\n26—Financial management\n\t(1)\tThe Council must ensure that proper accounting records are kept of its receipts and expenditures.\n\t(2)\tThe Council's accounting records must conform with any applicable instructions issued by the Treasurer under section 41 of the Public Finance and Audit Act 1987.\n\t(3)\tThe Council must ensure—\n\t(a)\tthat expenditures are not made out of money under the Council's control without proper administrative authorisation; and\n\t(b)\tthat proper control is maintained over the Council's property or property in the Council's control.\n27—Audit\nThe Auditor-General may at any time, and must at least once in each year, audit the accounts of the Council.\nPart 5A—Responsibilities of jurisdictional head\n27A—Interpretation\nIn this Part—\ncourt includes a tribunal or other body the functions of which include the exercise of judicial powers;\njudicial office means—\n\t(a)\tthe office of Judge of the Supreme Court;\n\t(b)\tthe office of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, District Court Judge or any other Judge;\n\t(ba)\tthe office of Supreme Court judicial registrar;\n\t(c)\tany other office involving the exercise of judicial functions that may only be occupied by a Judge, Associate Judge of the District Court or Associate Justice of the Supreme Court or by a person with other legal qualifications;\n\t(ca)\tthe office of District Court Judicial Registrar or Youth Court judicial registrar;\n\t(d)\tthe office of Magistrate;\n\t(e)\tany other office involving the exercise of judicial functions that may only be occupied by a Magistrate or by a person with other legal qualifications;\n\t(ea)\tthe office of Magistrates Court Judicial Registrar;\n\t(f)\tthe office of special justice;\n\t(g)\tany other office prescribed by the regulations;\njudicial officer means a person appointed to hold or act in a judicial office;\njurisdictional head of a court means the judicial officer who has primary responsibility for the administration of the court.\n27B—Application of Part\n\t(1)\tThis Part applies to a court of the State whether it is a participating court or not.\n\t(2)\tThis Part applies in addition to, and without derogating from, any other Act or law.\n27C—Responsibilities of jurisdictional head\n\t(1)\tThe jurisdictional head of a court is responsible for ensuring the effective, orderly and expeditious discharge of the business of that court.\n\t(2)\tWithout limiting the generality of subsection (1)—\n\t(a)\tthe functions of the jurisdictional head include—\n\t(i)\tparticipating as a judicial officer of the court; and\n\t(ii)\tmanaging the business of the court, including by ensuring that the court operates efficiently and effectively and continually improves the way in which it carries out its functions; and\n\t(iii)\tproviding leadership and guidance to the court and engendering cohesiveness and collaboration amongst the judicial officers and staff of the court; and\n\t(iv)\tdeveloping and implementing performance standards and setting benchmarks for the court; and\n\t(v)\tbeing responsible for promoting the training, education and professional development of judicial officers of the court; and\n\t(vi)\toverseeing the proper use of the resources of the court; and\n\t(vii)\tproviding advice to the Council, the Attorney‑General or other persons (as the jurisdictional head thinks fit) about—\n\t(A)\tthe judicial officers of the court; and\n\t(B)\tthe operations and activities of the court; and\n\t(b)\tthe jurisdictional head may do all or any of the following:\n\t(i)\tmake arrangements as to the judicial officer or judicial officers who is or are to constitute the court in particular matters (or classes of matters) or in particular places;\n\t(ii)\twithout limiting the generality of subparagraph (i)—assign particular cases, caseloads, classes of cases or functions to particular judicial officers of the court;\n\t(iii)\trequire a judicial officer of the court to assist in the administration of the court;\n\t(iv)\ttemporarily restrict a judicial officer of the court to non‑sitting duties;\n\t(v)\trequire a judicial officer of the court to keep particular records;\n\t(vi)\trequire a judicial officer of the court to undergo a medical examination or counselling and to provide the jurisdictional head with a report on the examination or counselling;\n\t(vii)\tcounsel a judicial officer of the court in relation to any conduct that has the potential to undermine public confidence in the court; and\n\t(c)\tthe jurisdictional head must ensure that arrangements are in place to provide judicial officers with appropriate access to (or reimbursement for the cost of)—\n\t(i)\tannual health assessments; and\n\t(ii)\tshort‑term counselling services; and\n\t(iii)\tjudicial education; and\n\t(d)\tthe jurisdictional head may issue requirements to a judicial officer of the court in response to a complaint referred under section 18 of the Judicial Conduct Commissioner Act 2015; and\n\t(e)\tthe jurisdictional head may take any measures that the jurisdictional head believes are reasonably necessary to maintain public confidence in the court (including, but not limited to, temporarily restricting another judicial officer to non‑sitting duties).\n\t(3)\tIf a judicial officer refuses or fails to comply with a requirement issued by the jurisdictional head in response to a complaint referred under section 18 of the Judicial Conduct Commissioner Act 2015, the jurisdictional head must, by notice in writing, report that refusal or failure to the Attorney‑General and to the Judicial Conduct Commissioner (and the report to the Judicial Conduct Commissioner will be taken to be a referral of the matter in accordance with section 12(7) of that Act).\n\t(4)\tA jurisdictional head of a court must give notice to the Judicial Conduct Commissioner of any complaint made to the jurisdictional head in relation to the conduct of a judicial officer of the court (but the giving of such a notice does not, of itself, constitute a referral of the matter for the purposes of section 12(7) of the Judicial Conduct Commissioner Act 2015).\nPart 6—Miscellaneous\n28A—Special provisions in relation to publication of judicial decisions\n\t(1)\tThe following provisions apply in respect of the publication on an Internet site maintained by the Courts Administration Authority of a decision of a judicial officer of a prescribed court:\n\t(a)\tthe Council, a member of the Council, the Administrator and the other members of the staff of the Council have, in respect of that publication, the same privileges and immunities as if the publication consisted of a delivery of the decision by a judicial officer in court; and\n\t(b)\tthat publication is in all other respects to be treated as if the publication consisted of the delivery of the decision by a judicial officer in court.\n\t(2)\tSubsection (1)—\n\t(a)\tdoes not apply unless the decision published on the Internet site was released by the judicial officer who made the decision before its publication in accordance with the procedures approved by the designated officer for the prescribed court of which the judicial officer is a member; and\n\t(b)\tdoes not give rise to any privileges or immunities with respect to any subsequent publication of the decision by a third party.\n\t(3)\tIn this section—\ndecision means any judgment, decree, order, decision or ruling (whether final or interlocutory), or a sentence, and includes—\n\t(a)\treasons for decision; and\n\t(b)\tremarks made by a judicial officer in passing sentence;\ndesignated officer means—\n\t(a)\tin relation to a court or tribunal that has a judicial head—the judicial head of that court or tribunal;\n\t(b)\tin any other case—the Chief Justice;\njudicial officer, in relation to a court or tribunal, means a person who alone, or together with others, constitutes the court or tribunal;\nprescribed court means—\n\t(a)\tthe Supreme Court; or\n\t(b)\tthe District Court; or\n\t(c)\tany other court or tribunal of the State prescribed by the regulations.\n29—Responsibility to Parliament\n\t(1)\tA member of the Council, or the Administrator, must, at the request of a parliamentary committee, attend before the committee to answer questions about—\n\t(a)\tthe financial needs of participating courts; or\n\t(b)\tthe expenditure of money by the Council; or\n\t(c)\tany other matters affecting the administration of participating courts.\n\t(2)\tA member of the Council, or the Administrator, cannot however be required to answer questions about the exercise of judicial as distinct from administrative powers or discretions.\n30—Regulations\n\t(1)\tThe Governor may make regulations for the purposes of this Act.\n\t(2)\tSubject to subsection (3), a regulation may only be made on the recommendation of the Council.\n\t(3)\tA regulation may be made—\n\t(a)\tdesignating a position on the staff of the Council as a prescribed position for the purposes of section 4; or\n\t(b)\tfor the purposes of section 11;\nbut, before such a regulation is made, the Council must be allowed a reasonable opportunity to comment on the terms of the proposed regulation.\n\t(4)\tA regulation may impose a fine, not exceeding $2 000 for contravention of, or non-compliance with, the regulation.\n31—Non-interference with individual powers or discretions\nNo power or discretion vested in the Governor or the Minister by this Act may be exercised so as to impugn the independence of the judiciary in relation to the exercise of judicial powers or discretions.\nSchedule—Transitional provision\n(1)\tA person who was employed, immediately before the commencement of this Act, in an office or position in the Court Services Department (except the Chief Executive Officer of the Department) is taken to have been appointed on the commencement of this Act to the corresponding office or position under this Act.\n(2)\tThis section does not affect continuity of employment or prejudice existing or accruing rights in respect of employment.\nLegislative history\nNotes\n\t•\tPlease note—References in the legislation to other legislation or instruments or to titles of bodies or offices are not automatically updated as part of the program for the revision and publication of legislation and therefore may be obsolete.\n\t•\tEarlier versions of this Act (historical versions) are listed at the end of the legislative history.\n\t•\tFor further information relating to the Act and subordinate legislation made under the Act see the Index of South Australian Statutes or www.legislation.sa.gov.au.\nPrincipal Act and amendments\nNew entries appear in bold.\nYear\nNo\nTitle\nAssent\nCommencement\n1993\n11\nCourts Administration Act 1993\n25.3.1993\n1.7.1993 (Gazette 1.7.1993 p196)\n1993\n54\nStatutes Repeal and Amendment (Development) Act 1993\n27.5.1993\n15.1.1994 (Gazette 27.10.1993 p1889)\n1993\n58\nYouth Court Act 1993\n27.5.1993\n1.1.1994 (Gazette 4.11.1993 p2177)\n1994\n52\nIndustrial and Employee Relations Act 1994\n16.6.1994\nSch 1 (cl 3)—1.11.1994 (Gazette 4.8.1994 p328)\n1995\n85\nStatutes Amendment (Courts Administration Staff) Act 1995\n30.11.1995\n14.12.1995 (Gazette 14.12.1995 p1641)\n1998\n60\nStatutes Amendment (Fine Enforcement) Act 1998\n3.9.1998\nPt 3 (ss 7 & 8)—6.3.2000 (Gazette 18.11.1999 p2358)\n2000\n49\nStatutes Amendment and Repeal (Security and Order at Courts and Other Places) Act 2000\n20.7.2000\nPt 3 (s 17)—29.9.2000 (Gazette 28.9.2000 p2221)\n2001\n69\nStatutes Amendment (Courts and Judicial Administration) Act 2001\n6.12.2001\nPt 3 (s 6)—13.1.2002 (Gazette 10.1.2002 p4)\n2003\n33\nCoroners Act 2003\n31.7.2003\nSch (cl 7)—1.7.2005 (Gazette 23.6.2005 p1899)\n2004\n23\nStatutes Amendment (Courts) Act 2004\n8.7.2004\nPt 2 (s 4)—1.9.2004 (Gazette 26.8.2004 p3402)\n2009\n84\nStatutes Amendment (Public Sector Consequential Amendments) Act 2009\n10.12.2009\nPt 40 (ss 74—79)—1.2.2010 (Gazette 28.1.2010 p320)\n2013\n31\nStatutes Amendment (Fines Enforcement and Recovery) Act 2013\n1.8.2013\nPt 3 (s 5)—3.2.2014 (Gazette 30.1.2014 p422)\n2015\n34\nJudicial Conduct Commissioner Act 2015\n5.11.2015\nSch 1 (cl 3)—5.12.2016 (Gazette 29.11.2016 p4525)\n2016\n63\nStatutes Amendment (South Australian Employment Tribunal) Act 2016\n8.12.2016\nPt 6 (s 77)—1.7.2017 (Gazette 16.5.2017 p1221)\n2023\n4\nStatutes Amendment (Attorney-General's Portfolio and Other Justice Measures) Act 2023\n23.2.2023\nPt 5 (s 8)—22.6.2023 (Gazette 15.6.2023 p1774)\n2023\n13\nCourts Administration (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2023\n30.3.2023\n1.7.2023 (Gazette 8.6.2023 p1447)\n2024\n23\nStatutes Amendment (Attorney-General's Portfolio) Act 2024\n27.6.2024\nPt 2 (s 3)—26.8.2024 (Gazette 22.8.2024 p2871)\n2025\n3\nStatutes Amendment (Criminal Proceedings) Act 2025\n13.2.2025\nPt 2 (s 3)—1.7.2025 (Gazette 12.6.2025 p1408)\nProvisions amended\nNew entries appear in bold.\nEntries that relate to provisions that have been deleted appear in italics.\nProvision\nHow varied\nCommencement\nPt 1\n\n\ns 2\nomitted under Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002\n1.9.2004\ns 4\n\n\nparticipating courts\namended by 54/1993 s 8\n15.1.1994\n\namended by 58/1993 Sch\n1.1.1994\n\namended by 52/1994 Sch 1 cl 3\n1.11.1994\n\namended by 33/2003 Sch (cl 7)\n1.7.2005\n\n(bb) deleted by 63/2016 s 77\n1.7.2017\nPt 2\n\n\ns 7\n\n\ns 7(1)\nsubstituted by 13/2023 s 3(1)\n1.7.2023\ns 7(1a)—(1h)\ninserted by 13/2023 s 3(1)\n1.7.2023\ns 7(2)\namended by 13/2023 s 3(2)\n1.7.2023\ns 7(3)\namended by 13/2023 s 3(3)\n1.7.2023\ns 9\n\n\nheading\namended by 13/2023 s 4(1)\n1.7.2023\ns 9(2)\namended by 13/2023 s 4(2)\n1.7.2023\ns 9(3)\namended by 13/2023 s 4(3)\n1.7.2023\ns 10\n\n\ns 10(1)\namended by 60/1998 s 7\n6.3.2000\ns 12\n\n\ns 12(1)\namended by 49/2000 s 17\n29.9.2000\ns 13\ndeleted by 13/2023 s 5\n1.7.2023\ns 14\n\n\nheading\namended by 13/2023 s 6(1)\n1.7.2023\ns 14(1)\namended by 13/2023 s 6(2)\n1.7.2023\nPt 4\n\n\ns 16\n\n\ns 16(2)\namended by 13/2023 s 7(1)\n1.7.2023\ns 16(4)\ndeleted by 13/2023 s 7(2)\n1.7.2023\ns 16(5)\namended by 13/2023 s 7(3)\n1.7.2023\ns 16(6)\namended by 85/1995 s 4(a)\n14.12.1995\n\ndeleted by 84/2009 s 74\n1.2.2010\ns 16(7)\ninserted by 85/1995 s 4(b)\n14.12.1995\ns 17\n\n\ns 17(3)\namended by 85/1995 s 5\n14.12.1995\n\ndeleted by 84/2009 s 75\n1.2.2010\ns 17A\ninserted by 84/2009 s 76\n1.2.2010\nss 18 and 19\nsubstituted by 85/1995 s 6\n14.12.1995\ns 20\ndeleted by 85/1995 s 6\n14.12.1995\ns 21\namended by 85/1995 s 7\n14.12.1995\ns 21A\ninserted by 85/1995 s 8\n14.12.1995\ns 21A(1)\namended by 60/1998 s 8\n6.3.2000\n\n(ab) deleted by 31/2013 s 5\n3.2.2014\ns 21B\ninserted by 85/1995 s 8\n14.12.1995\ns 21B(1)—(4)\nsubstituted by 84/2009 s 77\n1.2.2010\ns 21B(4a)\ninserted by 84/2009 s 77\n1.2.2010\ns 21B(4b)\ninserted by 84/2009 s 77\n1.2.2010\n\ndeleted by 13/2023 s 8\n1.7.2023\ns 22\namended by 85/1995 s 9\n14.12.1995\ns 23\n\n\ns 23(1) and (2)\namended by 84/2009 s 78\n1.2.2010\nPt 4A\ninserted by 13/2023 s 9\n1.7.2023\ns 23A\n\n\ns 23A(2)\namended by 3/2025 s 3\n1.7.2025\nPt 5A\ninserted by 34/2015 Sch 1 cl 3\n5.12.2016\ns 27A\n\n\njudicial office\namended by 4/2023 s 8(1)—(3)\n22.6.2023\n\namended by 23/2024 s 3(1), (2)\n26.8.2024\nPt 6\n\n\ns 28\ndeleted by 84/2009 s 79\n1.2.2010\ns 28A\ninserted by 69/2001 s 6\n13.1.2002\n\nsubstituted by 23/2004 s 4\n1.9.2004\nTransitional etc provisions associated with Act or amendments\nStatutes Amendment (Courts Administration Staff) Act 1995\n20—Transitional provision\n\t(1)\tAn appointment to a non-judicial office or position made or purportedly made before the commencement of this Act in accordance with an Act that is amended by this Act will be taken to have been duly made under the statutory provisions that, as amended by this Act, provide for the making of such an appointment as if this Act had been enacted and in force at the relevant time.\n\t(2)\tThe provisions of the Government Management and Employment Act 1985 and the Public Sector Management Act 1995 as from time to time in force before the commencement of this Act will be taken to have applied (with necessary modifications and exclusions) before that commencement to the staff and positions on the staff of the State Courts Administration Council in the same way as to an administrative unit and positions in an administrative unit of the Public Service.\n\t(3)\tThe provisions of the Superannuation Act 1988 as from time to time in force before the commencement of this Act will be taken to have applied before that commencement to a member of the staff of the State Courts Administration Council in the same way as to a person employed in the Public Service.\nCourts Administration (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2023, Sch 1—Transitional provision\n1—Annual report\nSection 23A of the Courts Administration Act 1993 (as enacted by this Act) will be taken to apply in relation to the whole of the financial year in which section 9 of this Act comes into operation (and, to avoid doubt, the information required by section 23A(2) must be included in that annual report, whether or not a portion of that year elapsed before that commencement).\nHistorical versions\nReprint No 1—15.1.1994\n\nReprint No 2—1.11.1994\n\nReprint No 3—14.12.1995\n\nReprint No 4—6.3.2000\n\nReprint No 5—29.9.2000\n\nReprint No 6—13.1.2002\n\n1.9.2004\n\n1.7.2005\n\n1.2.2010\n\n3.2.2014\n\n5.12.2016\n\n1.7.2017\n\n22.6.2023\n\n1.7.2023\n\n26.8.2024\n\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act's core mechanics—establishing a Crown instrumentality to centralise court administration—remain, but the statutory scope has been extended since enactment. Notable expansions include: insertion of explicit jurisdictional head responsibilities (Part 5A: ss 27A–27C) introduced by later amendment (Judicial Conduct Commissioner Act 2015 entry in legislative history), the imposition of detailed annual reporting requirements (Part 4A: s 23A inserted by Courts Administration (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2023), and changes to Council composition and meeting procedures (s 7 and s 9 amendments noted in the 2023 amendments). Employment and staff arrangements were also reworked to clarify application of Public Sector and Superannuation Acts (s 21B, as amended 2009 and subsequently). These subsequent insertions and substitutions broaden the Act from a basic administrative‑management vehicle to a framework that prescribes judicial leadership duties, detailed reporting, and refined staffing and governance rules (see legislative history entries and the affected sections cited above)."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple distinct actors with overlapping authorities: Governor, Attorney‑General, Chief Justice, Council, Administrator, jurisdictional heads (ss 6, 7, 9, 16, 25, 27C).","Mixture of judicial and administrative roles with statutory protections for judicial independence (s 31) alongside centralised administrative control (s 10, s 21A).","Delegation and revocability across layers: Council may delegate (s 12); Administrator may delegate (s 17A); delegated powers may be further delegated (s 17A(2)).","Financial controls requiring budgets, Attorney‑General approval and statutory appropriation (ss 24–25), plus audit obligations (s 27).","Governor consent and regulation thresholds limiting Council powers for certain contracts and property transactions (s 11(2)–(3), s 30).","Cross‑statutory interactions with Public Sector and Superannuation legislation affecting staff status and entitlements (s 21B).","Detailed annual reporting requirements specifying content and documentary inclusions from multiple judicial officers (s 23A).","Statutory removal and disqualification grounds for appointed members with discretionary standards (s 7(1g), (1f)).","Recent incremental amendments and insertions across years (legislative history) altering composition, reporting and responsibilities, creating multiple transitional rules."],"plain_english_summary":"# What this law does (mechanics first)\n\n- It creates a single administrative body called the State Courts Administration Council (the Council) and makes it a corporate instrumentality of the Crown (s 6).  The Council is authorised to provide, or arrange for, administrative facilities and services for specified courts (the \"participating courts\") so those courts can carry out their judicial and administrative functions (s 10(1)).\n\n- The Act gives the Council operational powers similar to a private person: it can contract, acquire and deal with property and provide services on terms it sets, subject to limits that require Governor consent for certain classes of transactions (s 11).  Real property set aside for participating courts is placed under the Council's care, control and management (s 15).\n\n- The Act creates the office of State Courts Administrator as the Council's chief executive (s 16–17).  The Administrator manages Council staff and property (s 17(2)), may delegate functions in writing (s 17A), and must meet employment and disclosure conditions (s 16(3)).  Senior staff appointments are made by the Administrator with Council approval (s 18); other staff are appointed by the Administrator (s 21).\n\n- The Council sets administrative policies and guidelines for participating courts (s 10(3)) and must publish those policies in its annual report (s 10(4), s 23A).  The Administrator must deliver an annual report to the Attorney‑General with specified content, and the Attorney‑General must lay that report before Parliament (s 23A(1), (4)).  The Council also reports to the Attorney‑General as required to keep the Attorney‑General informed of court administration (s 14).\n\n- Financially, the Council is funded from Parliamentary appropriations (s 24).  The Council must prepare budgets and submit them to the Attorney‑General; the Attorney‑General approves budgets and the Council cannot spend outside an approved budget (s 25).  The Auditor‑General audits the Council's accounts at least annually (s 27).\n\n- The Act preserves judicial independence in the exercise of judicial powers (s 31) while centralising non‑judicial court staff (including registrars, sheriff, registrars of probates and youth justice coordinators) within the Council's staffing framework (s 21A).\n\n- The Act also assigns specific responsibilities to judicial leaders (jurisdictional heads) of courts to manage court business, set performance standards, make case allocations, and take measures to maintain public confidence (Part 5A: ss 27A–27C).\n\n- The Act creates limited statutory protections for publication of judicial decisions on the Courts Administration Authority website so that such publication is treated like delivery in court for privileges and immunities (s 28A).\n\n# Who it affects and who pays, who decides, and what changes in behaviour\n\n- Who it affects: participating courts (listed in s 4), judicial officers and non‑judicial court staff (s 21A), the Administrator and Council members (ss 6, 7, 16), the Attorney‑General (reporting and budget approval duties at ss 14, 23A, 25), and Parliament (receives annual reports) (s 23A(4)).\n\n- Who pays: money required for the Act's purposes is to be paid from money appropriated by Parliament (s 24).  The Council must prepare budgets and may only spend money provided for in an Attorney‑General‑approved budget (s 25(1), (3)–(4)).\n\n- Who decides: the Council (constituted under s 7 and meeting rules in s 8–9) makes administrative policy and runs court administration (s 10).  The Governor appoints certain members and the Administrator (ss 7, 16).  The Attorney‑General approves budgets and receives required reports (ss 25, 14, 23A).  The Chief Justice presides at Council meetings (s 9(1)).\n\n- Behaviour changes: participating courts receive centralised administrative services and must observe administrative policies and guidelines the Council establishes (s 10(1), (3)).  Non‑judicial court staff are employed under the Council structure rather than directly as Public Service employees, though specified public sector employment provisions still apply (s 21B).  Judicial leaders gain explicit administrative duties (ss 27B–27C) including case allocation and measures to maintain public confidence.\n\n# Purpose claims and practical trade‑offs (source‑stated purpose then testing mechanisms)\n\n- The Act's stated objects are to establish an administration council independent of executive government and to give it power to provide courts with necessary administrative facilities and services (s 3).  Mechanically, the Act centralises administrative control of courthouse property, staff and services in a Crown instrumentality (ss 6, 15, 21A) and sets governance, budgeting and reporting rules (ss 7, 25, 23A).\n\n- Costs and who bears them: Parliamentary appropriation funds the Council (s 24); expenditure is constrained by an Attorney‑General‑approved budget (s 25).  That creates a concentrated decision path (Council prepares budget; Attorney‑General approves) for allocating public resources to court administration (s 25).\n\n- Incentives and discretion: the Council can enter contracts and provide services on terms it sets (s 11(1)(a)–(c)), and may delegate powers (s 12).  At the same time, Governor consent is required for certain high‑value or specified transactions (s 11(2)), and regulations may limit classes of contracts or set expenditure caps (s 11(2)–(3), s 30).  Those mechanisms create discretion within a framework of executive oversight.\n\n- Compliance burden and implementation risk: participating courts must observe Council administrative policies (s 10(3)), and staff are subject to employment rules that are separate from, but linked to, the Public Sector Act and Superannuation Act (s 21B).  Dependence on regulations (s 30), Governor consents (s 11(2)) and Attorney‑General approval of budgets (s 25) may slow changes or require inter‑agency coordination.\n\n- Effects on private actors and markets: the Council may contract with private parties and provide services on contractual terms (s 11(1)(a)–(c)).  The Act centralises non‑judicial court functions under a statutory body, which changes the legal employer and procurement decision‑maker for those services (ss 21A, 21B, 11).\n\n- Trade‑offs and risks signalled by the text: centralising administration and staff (ss 10, 21A) can create efficiencies of scale but concentrates decision authority (Council, Administrator, Attorney‑General) and introduces approval gates (s 25, s 11(2)).  Reporting and audit requirements (ss 23A, 27) impose transparency and oversight but also create recurring administrative work required of the Council and Administrator.\n\n# Concrete implementation levers and accountability points to note (sections cited)\n\n- Budget control: Council prepares budget; Attorney‑General approves and Council cannot spend outside it (s 25).\n- Property control: Council manages courthouses and related property (s 15).\n- Staffing: Administrator appoints senior and other staff with Council oversight; non‑judicial staff are identified and brought into the Council's staffing (ss 16–21, s 21A, s 21B).\n- Reporting & oversight: annual report requirements with prescribed content; Attorney‑General must lay reports before Parliament (s 23A); Auditor‑General audits accounts (s 27).\n- Judicial administration duties: jurisdictional heads retain and gain explicit administrative responsibilities (Part 5A: ss 27A–27C).\n\n"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope cannot be assessed as no legislative content was provided. The page returned was an error message from the South Australian legislation website, not the text of the Courts Administration Act 1993."},"complexity_factors":["No legislative content was retrievable — the source returned a 404-style 'Page Not Found' error","Unable to assess actual complexity of the Act from the provided text","Score of 1 reflects absence of analysable content, not simplicity of the underlying law"],"plain_english_summary":"## ⚠️ Content Unavailable\n\nThe legislation text for the **Courts Administration Act 1993 (SA)** was not successfully retrieved. Instead of the actual law, the source returned a **'Page Not Found' error** from the South Australian legislation website, likely due to a broken or outdated hyperlink following a website update in March 2026.\n\n### What we do know:\n- This is a **South Australian** law\n- It dates from **1993**\n- Based on its name, it likely governs how **South Australian courts are administered and managed** — covering things like the structure of court administration, staffing, and the authority responsible for running court operations (the Courts Administration Authority)\n\n### What to do:\n- Visit [www.legislation.sa.gov.au](https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au) directly and search for the **Courts Administration Act 1993**\n- Or contact the Office of Parliamentary Counsel at **OPCWeb@sa.gov.au** to report the broken link"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original 1993 Act focused primarily on establishing the Council and basic administrative functions. Over 30+ amendments, the scope has expanded significantly to include: detailed jurisdictional head responsibilities (Part 5A, 2015) covering judicial performance management and conduct; comprehensive annual reporting requirements (Part 4A, 2023); specific provisions for online publication of judicial decisions (section 28A, 2004); and intricate employment frameworks linking to but distinguishing from public sector legislation. The Act has evolved from a simple administrative establishment to a complex governance framework regulating judicial conduct, court security, and digital publication of decisions."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple overlapping governance layers: Council, Administrator, jurisdictional heads, and Attorney-General each have distinct but interrelated powers","Extensive appointment and removal provisions for Council members (section 7) with multiple conditions, concurrence requirements, and vacancy triggers","Nested exceptions in Part 5A regarding jurisdictional head powers—distinguishing between administrative functions and protected judicial independence","Cross-references to at least 6 other Acts (Public Sector Act, Superannuation Act, Judicial Conduct Commissioner Act, Juries Act, Sheriff's Act, Corporations Act)","Conditional logic in delegation powers (sections 12, 17A) requiring reporting and allowing revocation","Dual employment status: staff are not public service employees but are treated as public sector employees for specific purposes (section 21B)","Regulation-dependent provisions where key details (prescribed positions, contract limits) are left to subordinate legislation"],"plain_english_summary":"This South Australian law creates an independent body called the **State Courts Administration Council** to manage the administrative side of the state's courts—things like buildings, budgets, and non-judicial staff—while keeping the government at arm's length from judicial decisions.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Establishes the Council** as a corporate body made up of senior judges (Chief Justice, Chief Judge, Chief Magistrate) plus the heads of the Youth Court, Coroner's Court, and Environment Court, plus two independent members with expertise in finance or HR.\n- **Gives the Council control** over court properties (courthouses, equipment) and responsibility for providing administrative services to participating courts (Supreme, District, Magistrates, Youth, Coroner, and Environment Courts).\n- **Appoints a State Courts Administrator** as the CEO who manages staff and property day-to-day, with senior staff appointments requiring Council approval.\n- **Sets financial rules**: The Council prepares budgets for Attorney-General approval, keeps proper accounts, and is audited annually.\n- **Protects judicial independence**: The law explicitly states that administrative control cannot interfere with judges' independent decision-making powers.\n- **Defines responsibilities of court heads** (\"jurisdictional heads\"): These senior judges manage their own court's caseload, assign cases to other judges, and handle judicial conduct issues—though they remain independent in their actual judicial decisions.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Court staff (registrars, sheriffs, security officers) who are employed by the Council rather than the general public service.\n- Judges and magistrates who retain control over their own court's internal administration while receiving administrative support from the Council.\n- The Attorney-General, who receives reports and approves budgets but cannot direct judicial decisions.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nIt creates a \"buffer\" between the executive government (politicians) and the courts, ensuring that while the government funds the courts through Parliament, it cannot use that funding power to pressure judges. This separation is fundamental to the rule of law and judicial independence."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/courts-administration-act-1993","history":"/api/acts/courts-administration-act-1993/history","analysis":"/api/acts/courts-administration-act-1993/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/courts-administration-act-1993/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/courts-administration-act-1993/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/courts-administration-act-1993/documents"}}