SA Liberal Party says courts IT must be upgraded to save justice system from collapse Outside the Adelaide Magistrate Court. OUTDATED computer systems would be upgraded and integrated with a new courthouse under the Liberal Party's plan to fix the overworked, ailing criminal justice system. Opposition Leader Steven Marshall has told The Advertiser that the State Government's proposed $500 million courts precinct redevelopment fails to solve the system's numerous problems. He said that, if elected in March, a Liberal government would also ask bidders to create a uniform IT network for judges, prosecutors and lawyers that reduced delays and costs. "After 12 years, Labor has finally realised we need to play catch-up with the rest of Australia and, at five minutes to midnight, say they will put up a new building," he said. The part they've not yet grasped is there has to be a major systems upgrade at the same time. It's not sexy, but upgraded IT will provide cost savings for taxpayers while simultaneously improving efficiency for the courts and victims of crime. Top barrister David Edwardson, QC, has told The Advertiser that SA's criminal justice system was the worst in the country due to State Government under-resourcing . He said SA scored an F compared with interstate and blamed Labor's "pathological hatred" of the legal profession. In response, Premier Jay Weatherill said he was committed to improving the courts, but emphasised the legal profession must also take responsibility for its problems. "It appears that Mr Edwardson has an axe to grind of some sort because it's not the sort of moderate, balanced analysis that you'd expect from somebody in his position," he said. Opposition legal affairs spokesman Stephen Wade said the most pressing issue was the courts' 25-year-old computer systems which, since May, have been at "high risk" of failure . "At the time, the government said those concerns were 'beyond dispute', but since the government has failed to take action," he said. Can you imagine if the justice system collapsed tomorrow? He said a Liberal government would ask developers bidding in the privately funded redevelopment to also update IT systems so lawyers could file evidence electronically. Judges could manage cases online, streamlining their progress from arrest to trial, with the entire system integrated with the building's construction. The building would then act as a "hub" for a uniform IT system accessible by prosecutors, lawyers, coroners and police from there own offices. While he would not be drawn on the upgrade's cost, Mr Wade said overseas jurisdictions had spent as much as $1 million. "This is mission-critical stage and opportunity coming from crisis," he said. Mr Marshall said the Government had "treated the courts of this state with contempt." "A new building is only part of the solution, and SA deserves a better government with a focus on making sure our courts operate efficiently and effectively," he said. What David Edwardson has said goes with what we've been saying for some time. SA has a government with no interest in justice. When the State Government announced the courts redevelopment in September, it said the building would be "hard wired" with new IT features to create a "paperless" justice system.