Criminal prosecution bans - the DPP cuts staff and then flies to Europe

The Public Service Association understands the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Nicholas Cowdery, QC, is now in Bratislava, capital of Slovakia, on the banks of the river Danube. Before that he was visiting Belgium.

A committee of representatives of the NSW Attorney General, Treasury and the DPP's Office has been reviewing his budgetary needs while the DPP himself is travelling in Europe.

He was in France last month when staff at his Office went on strike over staffing costs and excessive workloads. This strike was prompted by the DPP's decision before he left to sack all his temporary staff because he couldn't pay the bills.

He made his decision before catching a plane to Europe. Economy class?

Staff at the DPP's Office are continuing with work bans while they await the outcome of a Budget Review initiated by the Attorney General.

These work bans include no action on child sexual assault matters in Local Courts, no action to acquire the proceeds of crime, and a limit to the number and type of criminal prosecution matters handled on a daily basis.

The staff are members of the Public Service Association.

"Our members have had enough", said PSA Industrial Officer Stephen Spencer. "One lawyer cannot do the work of two without the success of the criminal prosecutions they are handling being seriously jeopardised".

"They are doing the best they can, but they clearly need more staff."

"It would be nice if the DPP, who says he has no money, could help out by doing some work at home rather than exploring Europe".

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Previous ODPP Industrial Bulletin, May 19