103-576: The Magistrates Court of South Australia is the lowest level court in the state of South Australia . The Magistrates Court, then known as the Court of Petty Sessions , was established in 1837, by the Court of Sessions Act 1837 . It has both original and appellate jurisdiction and hears matters specified in the Magistrates Court Act 1991 (SA). The Magistrates Court has both a criminal and civil jurisdiction. In its criminal jurisdiction,
206-668: A Learning City . The number of international students studying in Adelaide has increased rapidly in recent years to 30,726 in 2015, of which 1,824 were secondary school students. Foreign institutions have been attracted to set up campuses to increase its attractiveness as an education hub. Adelaide is the birthplace of three Nobel laureates, more than any other Australian city : physicist William Lawrence Bragg and pathologists Howard Florey and Robin Warren , all of whom completed secondary and tertiary education at St Peter's College and
309-851: A Strategic Initiative Grant from the University of Adelaide. In South Australia, Magistrates are appointed by the Governor of South Australia based on the recommendations of the Attorney-General . Before the Attorney-General makes a recommendation, they must first consult with the Chief Justice of South Australia and the Chief Magistrate . Magistrates can be appointed on a full-time or part-time basis and they must have at least five years' experience working as
412-637: A minor indictable or summary offence can be appealed this will be heard by a single judge in the Supreme Court . For a second subsequent appeal, the appellant (the person appealing the decision) must obtain permission from the Supreme Court. Sentences for major indictable offences can be appealed to the Court of Appeal of South Australia, which is a division of the Supreme Court. However, to do this, appellants must first obtain permission from
515-553: A committal. On 28 May 2013 the committal procedure was abolished in England. As a result, the serious matters are sent straight to the Crown Court from a magistrates' court for a pre-trial hearing. There is no committal procedure to determine sufficiency of evidence. Instead, the defendant charged with the offence may make an application to the Crown Court to have the case dismissed for lack of evidence. The idea behind this reform
618-484: A defendant for trial regardless of the result of the committal proceedings by filing an ex officio indictment . Equally, the prosecuting authority usually has the power to stop any prosecution by entering a nolle prosequi . In many jurisdictions the right of a defendant to cross-examine witnesses during the committal is reliant on the defence establishing that it is in the interests of justice or to illuminate some relevant point. The defence very rarely calls witnesses at
721-409: A fine of $ 2,500 or less. There are however exceptions to the rule, for example, "an offence of violence" will not be deemed a summary offence even if it fits the other criteria of a summary offence. The Magistrates Court also hears minor indictable offences, unless the defendant elects to have their case heard in a superior court. Minor indictable offences include those punishable by a maximum fine that
824-577: A focus on “feminist perspectives of power relations and gender” and offers protection and support for women and children. The Family Violence Court also has the power to issue intervention orders (formerly known as restraining orders), which may contain conditions such as forbidding the defendant from visiting the victim's home or from contacting the victim. Defendants may also be referred to the Abuse Prevention Intervention Program and participation in this program may be
927-413: A four-yearly basis, are responsible for local roads and stormwater management, waste collection, planning and development, fire prevention and hazard management, dog and cat management and control, parking control, public health and food inspections, and other services for their local communities. Councils have the power to raise revenue for their activities, which is mostly achieved through "council rates",
1030-483: A higher sentence. This division hears expiable offences such as traffic offences . Such offences are those which police officers and transport authorities can charge people with through an expiation notice and fines given by such authorities range from A$ 50 to hundreds of dollars. Expiation notices allege that someone has committed an offence and they can either pay the fine or go to court and contest it. The court also hears "prescribed offences", which are offences where
1133-409: A legal practitioner. To be appointed as Chief Magistrate, the applicant must have at least seven years' experience as a legal practitioner. Magistrates must retire at the age of 70 years old but they may also retire when they reach the age of 55 years old. The Magistrates Court is currently composed of 34 magistrates. The Chief Magistrate is Her Honour Mary-Louise Hribal, who was appointed in 2015. In
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#17328019359001236-512: A mental health impairment. This program is aimed for defendants who cannot succeed in a defence of mental unfitness under s 269 of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 (SA) but nevertheless have mental health issues that contributed to their offending. The Family Violence Court is another specialist court sitting weekly in Adelaide, Elizabeth Magistrates Court and Port Adelaide. It hears domestic violence cases with
1339-489: A part of their intervention order or as a condition of their bail . This program aims to address the defendant's violent and abusive behaviours and is supervised by a Community Correctional Services Officer. A progress report and final report may be given to the Magistrate at the end of the program, detailing the defendant's participation, behavioural and attitudinal changes and attendance. This report can be considered when
1442-431: A refund, repair or replacement for faulty items, a right to cancel a service when it does not meet the advertised description or services not performed with due skill and care. The court can also guide the parties towards mediation , which is an alternative dispute method that does not involve going to court. It is cheaper may be a more appropriate alternative to litigation (going to court). A sentence or conviction for
1545-458: A solicitor. They could be representing the State of South Australia, a State or Government department (for example, a fisheries officer, park ranger) or a Local Government Council. Their role is to the inform the court as to the type of offence that the defendant has allegedly committed and to prove that the defendant committed this criminal offence, beyond reasonable doubt. In the civil divisions of
1648-735: A tax based on property valuations. Council rates make up about 70% of council revenue, but account for less than 4% of total taxes paid by Australians. As at December 2021 the population of South Australia was 1,806,599. A majority of the state's population lives within Greater Adelaide 's metropolitan area which had an estimated population of 1,333,927 in June 2017. Other significant population centres include Mount Gambier (29,505), Victor Harbor - Goolwa (26,334), Whyalla (21,976), Murray Bridge (18,452), Port Lincoln (16,281), Port Pirie (14,267), and Port Augusta (13,957). At
1751-662: A temporary settlement at Kingscote , Kangaroo Island , on 26 July 1836, five months before Adelaide was founded. The guiding principle behind settlement was that of systematic colonisation , a theory espoused by Edward Gibbon Wakefield that was later employed by the New Zealand Company . The goal was to establish the province as a centre of civilisation for free immigrants, promising civil liberties and religious tolerance. Although its history has been marked by periods of economic hardship, South Australia has remained politically innovative and culturally vibrant. Today, it
1854-541: A value greater than A$ 30,000 , or indecent assault against a child under the age of 14, as set out in the Criminal Procedure Act 1921 (SA). This means the Magistrates Court does not have jurisdiction to determine the defendant's innocence or guilt for a major indictable offence, it can only impose penalties on a defendant who has pleaded guilty. However, there is an exception, namely that
1957-508: Is a service that provides free legal advice to individuals involved in disputes that fit into the minor civil claims category, namely, involving less than A$ 12,000 . It is operated by final year law students studying at the University of Adelaide and supervised by qualified legal practitioners. Common matters include “fencing disputes, building disputes, claims in negligence , contractual disputes, and other types of matters.” This program
2060-478: Is also the world's fourth-largest remaining copper deposit, and the world's fifth largest gold deposit. There was a proposal to vastly expand the operations of the mine, making it the largest open-cut mine in the world, but in 2012 the BHP Billiton board decided not to go ahead with it at that time due to then lower commodity prices. The remote town of Coober Pedy produces more opal than anywhere else in
2163-454: Is common for defendants to plead guilty. This division of the Magistrates Court hears less serious offences known as summary offences . These offences are defined under section 5 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1921 (SA). Summary offences include those that cannot be punished by imprisonment or offences that carry a maximum imprisonment term of two years or less. Summary offences may also include offences that involve both imprisonment or
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#17328019359002266-399: Is equal to or less than $ 120,000 or offences that have a maximum penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment. Some offences that have a maximum penalty of more than 5 years' imprisonment, will also be classified as minor indictable offences if they fall into specific categories, for example, indecent assault , destroying property valued at less than $ 30,000 and other offences, as specified in section 5 of
2369-429: Is first held by a magistrate to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to warrant committing the defendant for trial. That is, whether there is sufficient evidence such that a properly instructed jury could (not would) find the defendant guilty. It is a very low-level test. The majority of committal proceedings result in a committal to trial. In some jurisdictions, the prosecuting authority may directly present
2472-602: Is flanked by the Southern Ocean , but official international consensus defines the Southern Ocean as extending north from the pole only to 60°S or 55°S, at least 17 degrees of latitude further south than the most southern point of South Australia. Thus the south coast is officially adjacent to the south-most portion of the Indian Ocean. See Southern Ocean: Existence and definitions . The southern part of
2575-603: Is known for its fine wine and numerous cultural festivals. The state's economy is dominated by the agricultural, manufacturing and mining industries. Evidence of human activity in South Australia dates back as far as 20,000 years, with flint mining activity and rock art in the Koonalda Cave on the Nullarbor Plain . In addition wooden spears and tools were made in an area now covered in peat bog in
2678-448: Is made, a meeting is held with a Magistrate who may accept the person into the program if they deem the person suitable, whilst considering the safety of the community (since the person will be released into the community on bail during the program). After the person participates in the program, sentencing will occur but the sentencing process will not consider the fact that a defendant has performed poorly or not made satisfactory progress in
2781-419: Is suitable for summary trial. In Victoria, Australia , they are called indictable offences triable summarily . As well as the defendant's consent the Magistrate must regard the offence as appropriate to be heard in the lower court. Finally, there are serious matters which must be dealt with in the higher courts, usually before a jury. When one is charged with an offence of the third type, a preliminary hearing
2884-560: Is the Mount Lofty - Flinders Ranges system, which extends north about 800 kilometres (500 mi) from Cape Jervis to the northern end of Lake Torrens . The highest point in the state is not in those ranges; Mount Woodroffe (1,435 metres (4,708 ft)) is in the Musgrave Ranges in the extreme northwest of the state. The south-western portion of the state consists of the sparsely inhabited Nullarbor Plain , fronted by
2987-479: Is usually a serious offence. If however the charge is that the defendant stole a packet of biscuits worth only a very small amount, it would probably be heard by a magistrate. In Canada and Ireland , these are known as hybrid offences , whereas in England and Wales , these are known as either way offences, and can only be heard summarily with the defendant's consent and if a magistrates' court finds that matter
3090-738: The Adelaide Hills . Tomatoes , capsicums , cucumbers , brassicas , lettuce and carrots are grown on the Northern Adelaide Plains at Virginia . Almonds , citrus and stone fruit are grown in the Riverland . Potatoes , onions and carrots are grown in the Murray Mallee region. Potatoes are grown on Kangaroo Island . South Australia produces more than half of all Australian wine, including almost 80% of Australia's premium wines. South Australia has
3193-508: The Court of Appeal . Appeals to the Court of Appeal can also be made for other reasons, if permission is obtained by a judge of the Supreme Court. On 2 January 1837 the Court of Petty Sessions, also known as the Police Court, was created by the Court of Sessions Act 1837 . In this court, magistrates would hear summary offences without a jury , for example traffic offences and public intoxication . According to Griffith University ,
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3296-427: The Criminal Procedure Act 1921 (SA). The Magistrates Court cannot hear any major indictable offences. If, however, the defendant pleads guilty to a charge for a major indictable offence and the court obtains the consent of the prosecution and defence, the defendant can be sentenced in the Magistrates Court. Major indictable offences are more serious criminal offences. For example, destroying or damaging property with
3399-800: The Dutch ship the Gulden Zeepaert , captained by François Thijssen , examined and mapped a section of the coastline as far east as the Nuyts Archipelago . Thijssen named the whole of the country eastward of the Leeuwin "Nuyts Land", after a distinguished passenger on board; the Hon. Pieter Nuyts , one of the Councillors of India . The coastline of South Australia was first mapped by Matthew Flinders and Nicolas Baudin in 1802, excepting
3502-707: The Fences Act 1975 (SA) or actions in trespass . Parties are not allowed to be represented by a Lawyer unless the opposing party is a legal practitioner, the court believes the party will be "unfairly disadvantaged" without legal representation or if all parties agree to the use of legal representation. Therefore, this division has simple procedures, with little technicalities and legal forms, enabling people to represent themselves. The General Claims division typically hears contractual, personal injury and debt disputes. The Consumer and Business Division, hears matters that involve Australian Consumer Law , including rights to
3605-680: The Governor of South Australia as his representative. It is a state of the Commonwealth of Australia . The bicameral Parliament of South Australia consists of the lower house known as the House of Assembly and the upper house known as the Legislative Council . General elections are held every four years, the last being the 2022 election . Initially, the Governor of South Australia held almost total power, derived from
3708-578: The Hornsdale Wind Farm in South Australia's Mid-North region. At the time of construction in late 2017, it was billed as the largest lithium-ion battery in the world. The Olympic Dam mine near Roxby Downs in northern South Australia is the largest deposit of uranium in the world, possessing more than a third of the world's low-cost recoverable reserves and 70% of Australia's. The mine, owned and operated by BHP , presently accounts for 9% of global uranium production. The Olympic Dam mine
3811-744: The Riverland and the Adelaide Hills . See South Australian wine . South Australia has boundaries with every other Australian mainland state and territory except the Australian Capital Territory and the Jervis Bay Territory . The Western Australia border has a history involving the South Australian government astronomer, G.F. Dodwell, and the Western Australian Government Astronomer , H.B. Curlewis , marking
3914-482: The South Australia Act 1834 ( Foundation Act ), which empowered His Majesty to erect and establish a province or provinces in southern Australia. The act stated that the land between 132° and 141° east longitude and from 26° south latitude to the southern ocean would be allotted to the intended colony, and it would be convict-free. In contrast to the rest of Australia, terra nullius did not apply to
4017-600: The Supreme Court of South Australia . The Magistrates Court still has this role today and it is now known as a Committal Proceeding. In 1895 South Australia also became the first Australian state to create a children's court , under the State Children’s Act 1895 (SA). Today, it is known as the Youth Court, under the provisions of the Youth Court Act 1993 (SA). Until 1969, matters were heard either in
4120-467: The University of Adelaide . Adelaide is home to research institutes, including the Royal Institution of Australia , established in 2009 as a counterpart to the two-hundred-year-old Royal Institution of Great Britain. Most of the research organisations are clustered in the Adelaide metropolitan area: South Australia is a constitutional monarchy with King Charles III as sovereign, and
4223-534: The 2016 census, 78.2% of the population spoke only English at home. The other languages most commonly spoken at home were Italian (1.7%), Standard Mandarin (1.7%), Greek (1.4%), Vietnamese (1.1%), and Cantonese (0.6%). At the 2016 census , overall 53.9% of responses identified some variant of Christianity . 9% of respondents chose not to state a religion. The most commonly nominated responses were 'No Religion' (35.4%), Catholicism (18%), Anglicanism (10%) and Uniting Church (7.1%). South Australia
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4326-417: The 2016 census, the most commonly nominated ancestries were: 28.9% of the population was born overseas at the 2016 census. The five largest groups of overseas-born were from England (5.8%), India (1.6%), China (1.5%), Italy (1.1%) and Vietnam (0.9%). 2% of the population, or 34,184 people, identified as Indigenous Australians ( Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders ) in 2016. At
4429-580: The 2020–21 financial year. This was the first time since the Australian Bureau of Statistics began collecting data in 1990 that South Australia had outperformed the other states. The recovery was driven in part by growth in the agricultural sector, which increased its production by almost 24% thanks to the end of a drought. Wheat , barley , oats , rye , peas , beans , chickpeas , lentils and canola are grown in South Australia. Apples , pears , cherries and strawberries are grown in
4532-600: The City of Adelaide is currently located. The first immigrants arrived at Holdfast Bay (near the present day Glenelg ) in November 1836. The commencement of colonial government was proclaimed on 28 December 1836, now known as Proclamation Day . South Australia is the only Australian state to have never received British convicts. Another free settlement, Swan River colony was established in 1829 but Western Australia later sought convict labour, and in 1849 Western Australia
4635-612: The German Lutheran church to this day. South Australia was the location of the first Muslim mosque in Australia. Committal procedure In law , a committal procedure is the process by which a defendant is charged with a serious offence under the criminal justice systems of all common law jurisdictions except the United States . The committal procedure replaces the earlier grand jury process. Sometimes
4738-597: The Imperial Parliament enacted the Australian Colonies Government Act , which allowed for the election of representatives to each of the colonial legislatures and the drafting of a constitution to properly create representative and responsible government in South Australia. Later that year, propertied male colonists were allowed to vote for 16 members on a new 24 seat Legislative Council. Eight members continued to be appointed by
4841-531: The Judge bows. Individuals should remain standing until the Judge has sat down. When the Court adjourns, everyone must again rise and remain silent until the Judge has left. The Magistrate must be referred to as “Your Honour”. In South Australia, the main Magistrates Courts are located at the following locations: South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA ) is a state in
4944-489: The Magistrates Clerk as to which solicitors, defendants and other parties are present in court and whether they are ready to commence with their case. They also ensure that no defendant leaves the court without signing any bails, bonds or orders of the court if required and that all criminal and civil processes are followed. The Sheriff's officer also has the powers of police to arrest an individual who misbehaves in
5047-519: The Magistrates Court can hear and determine civil matters where the amount claimed is less than $ 100,000 and can grant any form of relief necessary when hearing a minor civil action. Parties may however waive this monetary limit and if this occurs, the court can hear matters involving any sum of money. The monetary limits for each civil division in the Magistrates Court are as follows: The Minor Claims division typically hears neighbourhood disputes and small statutory proceedings including applications under
5150-404: The Magistrates Court cannot sentence cases involving murder or treason. It also cannot sentence offences for conspiracy to commit murder or treason or assault with intent to commit murder or treason . The court also has jurisdiction to conduct a committal proceeding (a preliminary examination to see if there is sufficient evidence to commence a case) for any major indictable offences. In
5253-400: The Magistrates Court deals with summary offences and minor indictable offences . The court has the power to impose a fine, imprisonment of up to five years for one offence, an intensive correction order (which may include community service ) or a good behaviour bond . In its civil jurisdiction, it hears matters involving up to $ 100,000 for general claims, unless this requirement is waived by
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#17328019359005356-478: The Magistrates Court, a magistrate is unable to sentence an accused to more than five years' imprisonment for a single offence or ten years' imprisonment for greater than one offence. A fine imposed cannot exceed $ 150,000 or $ 300,000 for accused persons found guilty under the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA). The Magistrate may also remit the case to a superior court if they believe that an offence warrants
5459-531: The Magistrates Court, the Bar Table will have a representative from both parties sitting at it instead of a prosecution and defence. The representatives will be a lawyer or the individuals themselves if the case belongs to the Minor Claims Division (involving less than $ 12,000). The public gallery is located behind the Bar Table and this is where members of the public are able to sit and observe
5562-489: The Magistrates Court, the magistrate sits at the front of the court, on the bench, which is elevated so that the Magistrate sits at a higher level than the rest of the court. In front of the Magistrate is the Bar Table where the magistrate's clerk (assistant, who records the proceedings), the defence lawyer and the Police Prosecutor sit and stand. The Police Prosecutor is can be either a uniformed police office or
5665-468: The South East. Kangaroo Island was inhabited long before the island was cut off by rising sea levels . According to mitochondrial DNA research, Aboriginal people reached Eyre Peninsula 49,000-45,000 years ago from both the east (clockwise, along the coast, from northern Australia) and the west (anti-clockwise). The first recorded European sighting of the South Australian coast was in 1627 when
5768-588: The Supreme Court or the Court of Petty Sessions. Thus, the Court of Petty Sessions would also hear intermediate matters, until 1969, when the District Court of South Australia was established by the Local Courts Act Amendment Act 1969 (SA). In 1991, the Court of Petty Sessions became known as the Magistrates Court, under the Magistrates Court Act 1991 (SA). In early February 2023, four new magistrates were appointed, including
5871-523: The Supreme Court until 1873. Between 1873 and 1991 the building was used for the Local and Insolvency Courts . In 1991 the building was used for the Police Court, which is now known as the Magistrates Court. Nunga Courts commenced in June 1999, initiated by magistrate Chris Vass. In the Nunga Courts, a Magistrate is advised or helped by an Indigenous Elder or Indigenous Court officer. In this court,
5974-509: The border on the ground in the 1920s. In 1863, that part of New South Wales to the north of South Australia was annexed to South Australia, by letters patent, as the "Northern Territory of South Australia", which became shortened to the Northern Territory on 6 July 1863 . The Northern Territory was handed to the federal government in 1911 and became a separate territory. According to Australian maps, South Australia's south coast
6077-618: The cliffs of the Great Australian Bight . Features of the coast include Spencer Gulf and the Eyre and Yorke Peninsulas that surround it. The Temperate Grassland of South Australia is situated to the east of Gulf St Vincent . The principal industries and exports of South Australia are wheat, wine and wool. More than half of Australia's wines are produced in the South Australian wine regions which principally include Barossa Valley , Clare Valley , McLaren Vale , Coonawarra ,
6180-477: The colony of New South Wales . Although the new colony included almost two-thirds of the continent, early settlements were all on the eastern coast and only a few intrepid explorers ventured this far west. It took more than forty years before any serious proposal to establish settlements in the south-western portion of New South Wales were put forward. On 15 August 1834, the British Parliament passed
6283-546: The committal procedure includes a preliminary hearing , sometimes it does not. In most jurisdictions criminal offences fall into one of three groups: There are less serious ( summary ) offences which are usually heard without a jury by a magistrate . These are roughly equivalent to the older category of misdemeanors (terminology that is now obsolete in most non-U.S. jurisdictions). There are intermediate offences which are indictable (equivalent to an old-style felony ), but which can be heard summarily. For instance, theft
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#17328019359006386-581: The community and enforce government regulations. Their principal role was to run the first temporary gaol, a two-room hut. The current flag of South Australia was adopted on 13 January 1904, and is a British blue ensign defaced with the state badge. The badge is described as a piping shrike with wings outstretched on a yellow disc. The state badge is believed to have been designed by Robert Craig of Adelaide's School of Design . The terrain consists largely of arid and semi-arid rangelands, with several low mountain ranges . The most important (but not tallest)
6489-483: The court. The defendant (the person on trial) sits in a box to the right of the Magistrate and any witnesses will sit in the Witness Box on the left (from the Magistrate's perspective). The Sheriff's Officer sits next to the defendant and their role is to maintain order in the court, to help bring prisoners into and out of the court and to assist individuals coming into the courtroom. The Sheriff's Officer also advises
6592-404: The courthouse and associated property. Court Etiquette rules apply universally to all Australian Courts, regardless of the state. Firstly, persons entering the Magistrates Court should dress conservatively and in business attire. Any hats that are not for a religious purpose should be removed. When entering the courtroom, individuals should bow in the direction of the coat of arms (located behind
6695-678: The defendant is sentenced. The Treatment Intervention Court, previously known as the ‘ Drug Court ’, originated from the United States, which developed this type of court in the 1980s. The Treatment Intervention Court is a non-adversarial court, meaning that there is no prosecution and defence and the magistrate talks directly to the defendant. This court hears summary and minor indictable offences that are associated with an illicit drug dependence. It also contains four support programs which may include rehabilitation , restrictive bail conditions (such as home detention ), reviews (which means
6798-431: The defendant must frequently appear in court), random urine testing, group therapy or counselling. The aim of the program is to prevent defendants from re-offending and provide alternatives to sentencing with methods proven to aid recovery. To be admitted into the program, defendants must first be referred by the police, a Magistrate, a solicitor, someone they know, a guardian or they may refer themselves. Once this referral
6901-573: The establishment of their whale and seal fisheries, the South Australian Company sought, and obtained, the Commissioners' permission to send Company ships to South Australia, in advance of the surveys and ahead of the Commissioners' colonists. The company's settlement of seven vessels and 636 people was temporarily made at Kingscote on Kangaroo Island, until the official site of the capital was selected by William Light, where
7004-408: The first Court of Petty Sessions was held at Holdfast Bay on 7 January 1837, with a case involving a dispute between a master and servant. When grand juries were abolished in 1852, the Court of Petty Sessions adopted this additional role. The role of grand juries was to determine whether there was enough evidence for a "major indictable offence " (a more serious criminal offence) to go to trial in
7107-485: The first in the world to allow women to stand for election. In 1897 Catherine Helen Spence was the first woman in Australia to be a candidate for political office when she was nominated to be one of South Australia's delegates to the conventions that drafted the constitution. South Australia became an original state of the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January 1901. Although the lower house had universal suffrage,
7210-460: The first two Aboriginal Australian magistrates in the history of the courts – Lana Chester and Natalie Brown. Previously, courts were held in public or government buildings. The first official, purpose-built Magistrates Court was created in 1967, in a building attached to the Supreme Court, on King Williams Street , in Adelaide . The Adelaide Magistrates Court building is currently located in
7313-501: The government is the party or coalition that exerts a majority in the House of Assembly. The Legislative Council remained a predominantly conservative chamber elected by property owners. Women's suffrage in Australia took a leap forward – enacted in 1895 and taking effect from the 1896 colonial election , South Australia was the first government in Australia and only the second in the world after New Zealand to allow women to vote, and
7416-539: The governor. The main responsibility of this body was to draft a constitution for South Australia. The body drafted the most democratic constitution ever seen in the British Empire and provided for universal manhood suffrage . It created the bicameral Parliament of South Australia . For the first time in the colony, the executive was elected by the people, and the colony used the Westminster system , where
7519-636: The inlet later named the Port Adelaide River which was first discovered in 1831 by Captain Collet Barker and later accurately charted in 1836–37 by Colonel William Light , leader of the South Australian Colonization Commissioners' 'First Expedition' and first Surveyor-General of South Australia. The land which now forms the state of South Australia was claimed for Britain in 1788 as part of
7622-429: The judge) if the court is in session and enter and leave the courtroom facing the Judge. Turning one's back to the judge is discouraged. The Judge will signal that they are about to enter the courtroom with three loud knocks on the door that leads to the Judge's chamber. The Court Officer will announce “all rise”. Individuals must stand up from their seats in silence and everyone in the courtroom must bow their head when
7725-403: The lead over other Australian states for its commercialisation and commitment to renewable energy . It is now the leading producer of wind power in Australia. Renewable energy is a growing source of electricity in South Australia, and there is potential for growth from this particular industry of the state's economy. The Hornsdale Power Reserve is a bank of grid-connected batteries adjacent to
7828-461: The least amount of federal funding for its local road network of all states on a per capita and a per kilometre basis. During 2019-20: South Australia's gross state product (GSP) fell 1.4% in chain volume (real) terms (nationally, gross domestic product (GDP) fell 0.3%). South Australia came out of the COVID-19 recession better than the other Australian states, with the economy growing by 3.9% in
7931-683: The letters patent of the imperial government to create the colony. He was accountable only to the British Colonial Office , and thus democracy did not exist in the colony. A new body was created to advise the governor on the administration of South Australia in 1843 called the Legislative Council. It consisted of three representatives of the British Government and four colonists appointed by the governor. The governor retained total executive power. In 1851,
8034-525: The maximum penalty is less than A$ 2,500 and includes imprisonment. These offences are outlined in the regulations of the Magistrates Court Act 1991 (SA) . This division also hears offences which do not include imprisonment and where the maximum penalty is less than $ 2,500 and may include license disqualification. This division may also hear appeals regarding fines, under the Fines Enforcement and Debt Recovery Act 2017 (SA). The civil division of
8137-493: The nation after Western Australia , with more than 77% of South Australians living in the capital Adelaide or its environs. Other population centres in the state are relatively small; Mount Gambier , the second-largest centre, has a population of 26,878. South Australia shares borders with all the other mainland states. It is bordered to the west by Western Australia , to the north by the Northern Territory , to
8240-676: The new province. The Letters Patent , which used the enabling provisions of the South Australia Act 1834 to fix the boundaries of the Province of South Australia, provided that "nothing in those our Letters Patent shall affect or be construed to affect the rights of any Aboriginal Natives of the said Province to the actual occupation and enjoyment in their own Persons or in the Persons of their Descendants of any Lands therein now actually occupied or enjoyed by such Natives." Although
8343-467: The north-east by Queensland , to the east by New South Wales , to the south-east by Victoria , and to the south by the Great Australian Bight . The state comprises less than 8% of the Australian population and ranks fifth in population among the six states and two territories. The majority of its people reside in greater Metropolitan Adelaide. Most of the remainder are settled in fertile areas along
8446-530: The old Supreme Court building, on the South-East corner of King William Street and Angas Street in Adelaide. Construction of the building began on 10 November 1847 and finished in February 1851. The architect who designed the building was Richard Lambeth, who succeeded Edward Charles Frome, who was the colonial engineer of Australia. Although the external sandstone structure of the building has remained largely
8549-539: The parties to the proceeding. The Chief Magistrate is the leading judicial officer of the Court. Her Honour Judge Mary-Louise Hribal was appointed to the position on 1 October 2015, and as of February 2023 still holds the position. Including the Chief Magistrate, there are 34 magistrates in South Australia, based in Adelaide and in metropolitan courts at Christies Beach , Elizabeth , Mount Barker and Port Adelaide . There are also nine magistrates based in
8652-478: The patent guaranteed land rights under force of law for the indigenous inhabitants, it was ignored by the South Australian Company authorities and squatters. Despite strong reference to the rights of the native population in the initial proclamation by the Governor, there were many conflicts and deaths in the Australian Frontier Wars in South Australia. Survey was required before settlement of
8755-504: The program. The Treatment Intervention Court contains four different programs or "streams", which include: The twelve-month program is suited to defendant's facing a term of imprisonment and where there is a strong link between their offending and their illicit drug dependence thus warranting a more intensive program. The six month programs are intended for defendants who committed minor indictable and/or summary offences , where their mental health impairment or illicit substance dependence
8858-458: The prosecution firstly outlines the case against the defendant, who then has a chance to speak and then members of the Indigenous community may also speak. The elders have no authority delegated by the court but may advise on sentencing options, to ensure they are culturally appropriate. The Magistrates Court Diversion Program helps to reduce recidivism by providing help to defendants who have
8961-481: The province, and the Colonization Commissioners for South Australia appointed William Light as the leader of its 'First Expedition', tasked with examining 1500 miles of the South Australian coastline and selecting the best site for the capital, and with then planning and surveying the site of the city into one-acre Town Sections and its surrounds into 134-acre Country Sections. Eager to commence
9064-403: The regional courts of South Australia. The Magistrates Court of South Australia is the lowest court in the state and contains the following divisions: The Magistrates Court hears approximately 80% of all civil disputes and every criminal matter commences in this court. In the Magistrates Court only a small proportion of cases actually go to trial as according to Professors Anleu and Mack, it
9167-473: The same, the internal area has been largely altered. The only features that remain are the skylight, public gallery and the canopy. Renovations to the building occurred in 1995 until 1997, in which a six-storey building was added to the rear of the building and thus the building now contains 25 courtrooms. However, the heritage listed components of the building located at the front and rear were retained. The Adelaide Magistrates Court building originally housed
9270-534: The south-eastern coast and River Murray . The state's colonial origins are unique in Australia as a freely settled, planned British province , rather than as a convict settlement. Colonial government commenced on 28 December 1836, when the members of the council were sworn in near the Old Gum Tree . As with the rest of the continent, the region has a long history of human occupation by numerous tribes and languages. The South Australian Company established
9373-416: The southern central part of Australia . With a total land area of 984,321 square kilometres (380,048 sq mi), it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which includes some of the most arid parts of the continent, and with 1.8 million people it is the fifth-largest of the states and territories by population. This population is the second-most highly centralised in
9476-547: The state has a Mediterranean climate , while the rest of the state has either an arid or semi-arid climate . South Australia's main temperature range is 29 °C (84 °F) in January and 15 °C (59 °F) in July. The highest maximum temperature ever recorded was 50.7 °C (123.3 °F) at Oodnadatta on 2 January 1960, which is the highest official temperature recorded in Australia. The lowest minimum temperature
9579-603: The state's upper house with the balance of power controlled by a variety of minor parties and independents. Local government in South Australia is established by the Constitution Act 1934 (SA), the Local Government Act 1999 (SA), and the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999 (SA). South Australia contains 68 councils and 6 Aboriginal and outback communities . Local councils, elected on
9682-529: The upper house, the Legislative Council, remained the exclusive domain of property owners until the Labor government of Don Dunstan managed to achieve reform of the chamber in 1973. Property qualifications were removed and the Council became a body elected via proportional representation by a single state-wide electorate. Since the following 1975 South Australian state election , no one party has had control of
9785-447: The world. Opal was first discovered near the town in 1915, and the town became the site of an opal rush, enticing immigrants from southern and eastern Europe in the aftermath of World War II . Higher education and research in Adelaide forms an important part of South Australia's economy. The South Australian Government and educational institutions have attempted to position Adelaide as Australia's education hub and have marketed it as
9888-497: Was formally constituted as a penal colony. Although South Australia was constituted such that convicts could never be transported to the Province, some emancipated or escaped convicts or expirees made their own way there, both prior to 1836, or later, and may have constituted 1–2% of the early population. The plan for the province was that it would be an experiment in reform, addressing the problems perceived in British society. There
9991-489: Was founded in 1997 by Adelaide Law School and originally began as an elective subject for final year students named the ' Clinic Legal Education Program' . Initially only two law students were accepted into the program and Margaret Castles, a professor at the university, oversaw the program. In 2001, a stand-alone legal advice clinic was established at the Adelaide Magistrates Court, with the support of
10094-633: Was related to their offending. The Treatment Intervention Court also operates in the Youth Court, and the associated programs have a duration of six-months. The program began in 2011 and replaced the Youth Court Assessment and Referral Drug Scheme (Youth CARDS) and the former Youth Court Diversion Program (YCDP). Treatment is often provided by psychologists and the program is aimed at young people who are ineligible for family conferences, in which case they are normally diverted to this program. The Magistrates Court Legal Advice Service (MCLAS)
10197-468: Was the first Australian colony not to have an official state religion, and the colony became attractive to people who had experienced religious discrimination, including Methodists and Unitarians . South Australia also had thousands of Prussian Old Lutheran immigrants, some of whom established their own form of Lutheranism. As a result, the Lutheran Church of Australia remains separate from
10300-474: Was to be religious freedom and no established religion. Sales of land to colonists created an Emigration Fund to pay the costs of transferring a poor young labouring population to South Australia. In early 1838 the colonists became concerned after it was reported that convicts who had escaped from the eastern states may make their way to South Australia. The South Australia Police was formed in April 1838 to protect
10403-456: Was to get cases to trial more quickly and reduce the number of pre-trial hearings. However, it is questionable whether this has been achieved given the number of pre-trial hearings that are often required in the Crown Court. The first hearing in the Crown Court will be a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing ( PTPH ), where a plea is taken and, if not guilty, a timetable for trial is set and directions given for service of further evidence, followed by
10506-570: Was upgraded to AAA by Standard & Poor's in September 2004 and to AAA by Moody's in November 2004, the highest credit ratings achievable by any company or sovereign. The state had previously lost these ratings in the State Bank collapse. However, in 2012 Standard & Poor's downgraded the state's credit rating to AA+ due to declining revenues, new spending initiatives and a weaker than expected budgetary outlook. South Australia receives
10609-786: Was −8.2 °C (17.2 °F) at Yongala on 20 July 1976. The region's overall dry weather is owed to the Australian High on the Great Australian Bight. As of 2016, South Australia had 746,105 people employed out of a total workforce of 806,593, giving an unemployment rate of 7.5%. South Australia's largest employment sector is health care and social assistance, making up 14.8% of the state's total employment, followed by retail (10.7%), education and training (8.6%), manufacturing (8%), and construction (7.6%). South Australia's economy relies on exports more than any other state in Australia. South Australia's credit rating
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