Attorney-General Tara Cheyne (left) and the ACT’s top prosecutor Victoria Engel SC have welcomed the funding announcement. Photos: Michelle Kroll/DPP.
After Canberra’s top prosecutor warned a lack of funding was compromising the justice system last year, the ACT Government has now said almost $19 million will be delivered to her office.
Announced on Tuesday (19 May) as part of the 2026-27 ACT Budget, $18.9 million will go to the ACT Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) over the next four years in order to fund 24 new permanent positions.
Out of the DPP’s 100 current full-time staff, less than 60 are prosecutors.
Ten of the 24 new positions are already filled temporary roles which will be turned into permanent positions. The other new positions will include one Crown prosecutor, nine prosecutors and four additional Witness Assistance Service (WAS) officers.
The new roles aim to boost the DPP’s ability to manage the increasing volumes and complexity of cases.
“There has been long term, sustained pressure on prosecution services – particularly in sexual offence and family violence matters – placing pressure on our team to deliver to a standard that we and the community rightly expect,” ACT director of Public Prosecutions Victoria Engel SC said.
“The ACT Budget helps alleviate this pressure, turning recent temporary measures into permanent funding and providing additional support.”
In addition, the funding aims to help the DPP explore better ways of working – such as directing resources towards the early resolution of appropriate matters to reduce pressure across the whole justice system.
In a joint statement, the ACT Bar Association and ACT Law Society welcomed the investment, while also saying they had “grave concerns” about the lack of a corresponding increase in funding for Legal Aid ACT.
Bar Association president Prue Bindon said the disparity in funding risked undermining the proper functioning of the ACT justice system as a whole.
“While we welcome all investment in the justice system, including the recent budget announcement for the ODPP, Legal Aid ACT will be unable to meet demand under persistent funding constraints and it is hard to see how this will not worsen in light of the prosecutorial arm being strengthened,” she said.
“A fair and properly functioning justice system requires that both the prosecution and defence arms are adequately resourced.
“We are gravely concerned that balance is not being met.”
She added that last week’s Federal Budget also delivered no meaningful assistance for the legal aid sector.
Law Society president Vik Sundar echoed Ms Bindon’s comments, adding that strengthening the DPP without corresponding support for Legal Aid ACT risked increasing the number of unrepresented accused, prolonging proceedings and compounding delays.
When speaking about the funding announcement for the DPP, ACT Attorney-General Tara Cheyne said demand on prosecutorial services was growing, driven by population growth and increased reporting.
“The DPP has been under pressure, I think anyone can see the stats and can see exactly how they have been trending,” she said.
Ms Engel said there had been a 171 per cent increase in sexual violence matters and 63 per cent increase in family violence matters coming through the system compared to five years ago.
“My staff have worked exceptionally hard over the last decade to keep things running and to attempt to continue to achieve justice on behalf of Canberrans,” she said.
“This provides support that was desperately needed.”
She expected the funding would allow for the early consideration of matters.
“So matters that should be able to resolve appropriately without proceeding to hearing, that can occur,” she said.
The ACT DPP spokesperson said Ms Engel intended to make at least one of the new WAS positions a First Nations-identified position, as well as to set up an early intervention team from the investment.
WAS provides support to victims, complainants and witnesses through the criminal justice process.
“Whilst the service exists in other jurisdictions, the ACT DPP has pioneered a service that embeds victim, witness and complainant needs within its operations,” the spokesperson said.
“On a practical level, the service assists to explain court processes, acts as court support for victims and complainants and works to ensure victim views are properly understood by prosecutors.
“Presently, this service is for sexual violence and death matters and the service will work to targeted expansion with the investment.”
The ACT DPP spokesperson said its office was currently hiring for several roles on the ACT Government’s jobs website and further recruitment activity would take place over the coming months.
Original Article published by Albert McKnight on Region Canberra.
