Regional courts across Western Australia that were temporarily shut down due to a shortage of court security and custodial staff will now reopen about one month earlier than originally scheduled, restoring access to justice for many regional communities.
The closures affected more than 20 regional courthouses from June 2026, after WA Police and justice authorities advised they could not guarantee adequate security and prisoner handling services at a number of locations. As a result, many Magistrates Court and Children’s Court sittings were suspended, with hearings either delayed, relocated to larger centres, or conducted via video link where possible.
According to updated arrangements, the courts will now begin reopening from August 3, 2026, instead of the previously expected later reopening date in late August. The change follows the introduction of additional police auxiliary officers, who have now completed or are nearing completion of required training to support court security and custody operations.
The Western Australian Government has described the development as a stabilisation of the court system after weeks of disruption that affected defendants, victims, witnesses, and legal services across regional WA. The earlier reopening is expected to ease pressure on the justice system and reduce the need for long-distance travel to metropolitan courts.
During the closure period, only selected regional centres—including major hubs such as Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Broome and Kununurra—continued to operate full sittings. Smaller communities were forced to rely on circuit arrangements, which created delays in hearings and increased logistical challenges for police and court users.
The disruption highlighted ongoing concerns about staffing levels in regional justice services, particularly the reliance on police or contracted personnel to provide courthouse security in remote areas. Authorities had warned that without adequate staffing, court sittings could not proceed safely due to the need for prisoner transport and in-custody management.
Legal stakeholders and regional advocacy groups had raised concerns about the impact of the closures, arguing that delays in hearings could lead to longer remand periods, postponed family law matters, and increased travel costs for affected residents. The changes also placed additional strain on legal aid services and police resources, which had to coordinate appearances across multiple jurisdictions.
The government says the recruitment and deployment of auxiliary officers is part of a broader effort to strengthen regional justice infrastructure and reduce reliance on overstretched police resources. Officials have indicated that ongoing training and staffing reviews will continue to ensure courts remain operational in regional locations.
While the earlier reopening is being welcomed, authorities have noted that the system remains under review and that long-term solutions are still being developed to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
For now, the return of regional court sittings from early August is expected to restore normal legal operations across most affected communities and significantly reduce the backlog of delayed hearings.
