Wentworth must keep registrar services

Wentworth Shire Council has urged the New South Wales Government to keep the Wentworth Local Court registrar service operating.

In a letter to the Minister for Counter Terrorism and Corrections, which was then forwarded on to the Attorney General’s office, Mayor Susan Nichols sought assurance the Wentworth Local Court could continue to uphold the services previously offered by the now retired registrar Peter Fitzpatrick.

“This is a service our remote community cannot do without,” Cr Nichols said.

“Further to this, the future operating model must be the same capacity as it existed when Mr Fitzpatrick was the registrar.”

Mr Fitzpatrick had served the Wentworth community for more than 40 years, finishing at the end of January.

Under his watch the Wentworth Local Court operated Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 4:00pm offering face to face personal appointments with clients in need of the services provided.

Interim arrangements at the Wentworth Local Court involve a relieving registrar opening the registry on court sitting days and for two days the week prior to prepare for Court.

Court sits at Wentworth five days per month, Monday to Friday of the first full week of each month.

The community can continue to contact Wentworth Court at local-court-wentworth@justice.nsw.gov.au or through the NSW Court Services Centre on 1300 679 272.

There are also a number of online services available, including LawAccess, which can be contacted via https://www.lawaccess.nsw.gov.au or at 1300 888 529.

The Department of Communities and Justice will undertake community consultation before making a decision regarding the ongoing provision of registry services at Wentworth.