Politics · Australia · 18 hrs ago
Victoria's justice of the peace volunteers call for more training funding
Justice of the peace Loretta Cormack has volunteered in Victoria for 51 years and now provides services at a Bunnings store in Altona, Melbourne's west.
JPs can witness legal documents and certify copies, and most in Victoria work from police stations, libraries or council offices.
The Altona store is the first Bunnings in Victoria to offer the service, which is available six days a week.
Cormack says demand has increased since the service moved into the store, and that the Hobson Bay area needs more volunteers.
Victoria has 3,699 registered JPs, but the state association estimates only about 2,000 are active, partly because many are old, unwell or have died.
The association says Victoria has not funded JP training since the 2021–22 budget and wants funding to train 5,000 recruits, followed by 500 a year.
The party forming government after the November 28 state election is being asked to support the plan; the Liberal Party has not committed, and Labor had not responded.
Victoria’s justice of the peace volunteers are calling for government funding to train more volunteers, saying active numbers are too low to meet demand.
The Royal Victorian Association of Honorary Justices wants funding to train 5,000 new recruits and add 500 each year.
The association’s president estimates about 2,000 of Victoria’s 3,699 registered JPs are active.
Volunteer Loretta Cormack says demand has boomed since she began offering JP services at an Altona Bunnings store.
Victoria has not received government funding to train JPs since the 2021–2022 budget.
- Who
- Victoria’s justice of the peace volunteers, represented by the Royal Victorian Association of Honorary Justices, are calling for more training funding.
- What
- They want funding to train 5,000 new recruits and add 500 each year.
- When
- The association is seeking a commitment from whichever party forms government after the November 28 state election.
- Where
- Victoria, Australia.
- Why
- The association says active JP numbers are low and demand for the service is high.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Victoria last received government funding to train JPs.
More than 70 association members gathered to campaign for more JP funding.
The Victorian state election is due to take place.
- Registered JPs
- 3,699 in Victoria
- Estimated active JPs
- About 2,000
- Training target
- 5,000 new recruits
- Annual recruitment proposal
- 500 more JPs each year
- Altona service
- The Bunnings store is the first in Victoria to offer JP services to shoppers.
What people are saying
It's outrageous, the number [of volunteers] that we've got is so low
If you ask me what I want for Christmas, I'll say 20 more JPs. And I'm sure there's a lot of other people who would say the same thing.