Skip to main content
Quick exit Opens Google in same window
Government of Western Australia State Coat of Arms
Children's Court of Western Australia

Government of Western Australia State Coat of Arms
Children's Court of Western Australia

Home > Publications and forms > Information Notes > Criminal lists at Perth Children's Court

Criminal lists at Perth Children's Court

Information Note

To make the Information Note accessible we have not used paragraph numbering. If you need this, please see the PDF version.

This Information Note outlines changes to the management of criminal lists at Perth Children's Court.

1. Introduction

Over the last two years, the daily Criminal Combined List at Perth Children’s Court has increased in numbers and is taking longer to hear. The Complex Matters List was originally intended to assist in managing this workload. However, it has not operated as effectively as anticipated in relieving pressure on the Criminal Combined List.

To improve the efficiency of both lists and reduce waiting times for accused persons, legal practitioners and other court users, changes will be made to criminal listing practices. Some changes will take effect immediately, while others will commence on 31 August 2026.

2. Changes taking effect immediately

A charge will only be adjourned to a Complex Matters List for sentencing if a plea of guilty has been entered and formally recorded. Any related charge for which a plea has not been entered will be listed in the Criminal Combined List on the same day and dealt with separately.

In relation to referrals to therapeutic courts:

  1. Practitioners must consider whether a matter is suitable for assessment by the In-Roads Court or Drug Court before the matter is listed for sentencing in the Complex Matters List.
  2. Once a matter has been listed for sentencing in a Complex Matters List, referral to a therapeutic court will occur only in exceptional circumstances.

3. Changes commencing 31 August 2026

The Callover List each Monday will be capped at 5 matters and run from 9:30 am to 10 am.

The Complex Matters List will be divided into two streams:

  1. a Monday stream for lengthy sentencing matters that are not otherwise complex. These matters will be listed each Monday from 10 am to 1 pm, with a maximum of three matters listed; and
  2. a Wednesday stream conducted on alternate Wednesdays for complex sentencing and bail matters.

Fitness to stand trial matters will no longer be listed in the Complex Matters List and will instead be adjourned to the CLMI Court in accordance with the Information Note published on 20 August 2024.

Judge Hylton Quail

President
Children's Court of Western Australia
10 August 2026

For printing


Last updated: 10 August 2026

[ back to top ]