Sixty-five per cent of the criminal matters initiated in magistrates courts were of a minor nature. Hearings Hearings, particularly full court hearings and trials, are the primary cost driver for court administrations. Hearings encompass court trials in the criminal and civil jurisdictions, as well as inquests and inquiries in the coronial jurisdiction. The duration between the lodgment of a matter with the court and its finalisation is referred to as 'timeliness'. Generally, lower courts complete a greater proportion of their workload more quickly because the disputes and prosecutions heard are less complex than those in higher courts, and cases are of a routine or minor nature.
Committals are the first stage of hearing indictable offences in the criminal justice system.
A magistrate assesses the sufficiency of evidence presented against the defendant and decides whether to commit the matter for trial in a superior court. Defendants are often held in custody pending a committal hearing or trial if ordered. The timely conduct of the committal hearing is therefore important for timely adjudication of the charges against the defendant. Appeals from lower courts are predominantly heard by the district courts and Supreme Courts of the States and Territories. The full bench of the Federal Court also hears appeals from a single Federal Court Justice.