Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader
The Supreme Court’s decision to suspend jury trials, while right for the safety of those called to do jury duty, will mean justice is delayed for many. There is already a backlog of cases to be heard, and this will only add to the wait.
In Peter Gutwein’s Covid-infected Tasmania, justice is now on hold.
People will be remanded in custody for months before their matters can be heard. That’s not a functioning justice system, it’s unjust imprisonment and it’s due to a political decision made by the Premier to open the floodgates to Omicron.
While we know the Liberals are largely ambivalent about the rights of prisoners, this is not about the guilty. This decision impacts those who have yet to receive a verdict – and who may, ultimately, be acquitted.
Thousands of Tasmanians are becoming infected, businesses are closing, workers are losing income, the health system is cracking, now it’s the justice system. What will it take for the Premier to reset to slow the spread of this dangerous virus?