Message from the Secretary
I am pleased to present the 2025–26 Annual Report of the Department of Justice, which summarises the wide range of work undertaken across all areas of the Department throughout the 2025–26 financial year.
Yet again this year the Department has continued to manage its wide ranging business as usual responsibilities, while at the same time progressing a number of specific projects, including the Tasmanian Government’s election commitments and budget initiatives.
One of our key achievements of the reporting period was the development and implementation of a nation-leading redress scheme that recognises the harm suffered by mothers affected by forced historical adoptions. The collaborative and trauma-informed approach adopted in developing the scheme is a testament to the professionalism and commitment of our staff and a credit to the Justice Support Services team who led this important work.
Once again, the Department has managed a large portion of the Tasmanian Government’s legislative agenda. This has included preparing 23 Bills which were introduced into Parliament in 2025–26, and the extensive policy development work, stakeholder and community consultation which is required to inform legislative projects before they reach this point. Our Strategic Legislation and Policy team has developed a strong reputation with stakeholders for the expert advice they provide Ministers and for the consultative approach to their work. These attributes are evident in both the quality and quantity of the work the team produces year after year. A prime example of this can be seen in the project to review and strengthen Tasmania’s family violence legislation. Strategic Legislation and Policy led a comprehensive community and stakeholder consultation process on this important community issue, in response to a discussion paper that was released in late 2025. This process has informed a comprehensive program of legislative reform that will be progressed in tranches over the next few years.
The Department has continued to implement measures to give effect to our commitment to the safety of children and young people. Central to this is the ongoing implementation of the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Response to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings. As of 30 June, 24 of the 48 recommendations for which the Department is responsible were complete, with work on the remainder progressing well. In addition, the Department has supported and responded to independent reviews, progressed further relevant legislative reforms, and is leading the work to establish the new Commission for Children and Young People, which is expected to commence later in 2026. A major project is also underway to expand and strengthen Tasmania’s Registration to Work with Vulnerable People scheme through a combination of new legislation, systems and registration requirements.
2025–26 also saw a number of our major infrastructure projects reach milestones. The most significant of these was the commencement of main construction works for the new Burnie Courts Complex, following receipt of all required approvals and the awarding of a contract to Tasmanian company Fairbrother. The site is already showing great progress towards delivering a modern, fit for purpose facility that will better service the needs of the North West community.
In the corrections portfolio, we have also progressed many projects at Tasmania Prison Service sites, including practical completion of the new kitchen, starting the roll out of upgraded electronic security systems at the Risdon Prison site, developing the design and operating model for the new Correa maximum security accommodation unit, and progressing upgrades at the Launceston Reception Prison.
We have progressed accommodation projects to rationalise our office locations, bringing together related teams to support them to work more collaboratively and providing more contemporary facilities that meet a consistent standard across the Department.
Towards the end of the financial year, we progressed work to give effect to machinery of government changes. In mid-July 2026, we will welcome two new teams, the Office of Local Government and the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, who were previously part of the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
I am pleased that despite the complexities of the environment we are working within, the Department was able to continue to invest in and recognise our people throughout 2025–26. This included:
- launching a dedicated recruitment campaign to attract new applicants for a career as a correctional officer
- commencing a leadership program to better equip our senior staff to manage in an era of change and complexity
- continuing to invest in technology, such as the Astria digital solution, to support our work
recognising individuals and teams who role model the Department’s Values in the way they go about their work.
While we focus much of our attention on the headline achievements as projects reach milestones, it would be remiss of me to not acknowledge the immense workload that comes with our business-as-usual activities across all areas of the Department’s operations – from frontline services through to corporate support. Most areas have seen growth in both the volume and complexity of their work and while this creates challenges and pressures, it also presents opportunities for innovation and adaptation to ensure that we are delivering our services in the most efficient and effective ways. This will continue to be an area of focus for the Department in the years ahead as we seek to achieve required budget savings.
In 2025–26 we started work to prepare for this, including supporting an independent review of court backlogs, developing a proposal to replace the current Consumer, Building and Occupational Services output with a dedicated building regulator and a separate consumer affairs office, and planning for the establishment of a Legal Services and Partnerships team that will align and consolidate strategic legal capability.
I would like to recognise the efforts of the staff employed in all areas of the Department for their continued efforts to serve the Tasmanian community. The work our people do can be challenging and at times thankless, but I acknowledge not only what they do but also the way in which they go about it. In the face of change and budgetary pressure, our staff continue to show up, do their best and look for ways we can do things differently to ensure we deliver on our aim of a safe, fair and just Tasmania. I extend my thanks to each of you for your contribution throughout 2025–26, and I am proud of what we have achieved.
I would particularly like to acknowledge the efforts of the Department’s leadership over the last 12 months. The Deputy Secretaries, Output Managers and Statutory Office holders have provided support and direction to their teams during a period of high demand for our services and external changes and pressures. The commitment and contribution of this group is one of our organisation’s greatest strengths.
The 2025–26 State Budget specifically funded the Department of Justice to deliver a range of services, projects and initiatives. Updates on the progress of these are included throughout this report.
Additional information on all the initiatives I have referred to above, along with qualitative and quantitative performance reports, financial statements and information required to be published to meet a range of compliance obligations, is provided throughout the subsequent sections of this annual report, which I commend to you.
Kristy Bourne
Secretary
Department of Justice
18 September 2026
About Us
Here is a snapshot of our Department as at 30 June 2026. Download our Annual Report from the link below to read about us in more detail.
Quick facts
In 2025–26 the Department:
- Had staff in 39 office/building locations across the State.
- Awarded 40 contracts with a total value of 72.9 million – 32 of these, valued at more than $68.9 million, went to Tasmanian businesses.
- Administered more than 235 pieces of legislation across 3 portfolio areas.
- Collected more than $28.5 million in fines.
- Developed 23 Bills that were either introduced into, debated, or passed by Parliament, and remade 13 sets of regulations.
People
1,933 staff equating to 1,833.5 full time equivalents (FTE)
1,138 women
- 834 female full-time staff
- 304 female part-time/casual staff
795 men
- 738 male full-time staff
- 57 male part-time/casual staff
*Note: 5 employees identify as non-binary, use a different term to describe their gender, or have not disclosed their gender.
Age
- 12% are aged under 30
- 25% are aged between 30 and 39
- 24% are aged between 40 and 49
- 27% are aged between 50 and 59
- 11% are aged 60 and over
Achievements
Highlights amongst the range of projects and initiatives progressed across the Department during the 2025–26 reporting period include:
Delivered the Tasmanian Government’s Historical Forced Adoption Redress Scheme which recognises the harm cause by historical forced adoption practices.
Commenced construction of the new $86.5 million Burnie Courts Complex following the awarding of the contract and receipt of all required approvals.
Managed a project to establish the new Commission for Children and Young People which will commence operation later in 2026.
Commenced work to strengthen the legislative framework that prevents and responds to family violence.
Supported the Third Party Review of Backlogs in the Tasmanian Court System 2026 led by former New South Wales and Northern Territory Director of Public Prosecutions Lloyd Babb SC.
Continued to manage a large proportion of the Government’s legislative agenda with 23 Bills developed by the Department introduced into Parliament.
Expanded interventions to reduce reoffending risk including a new community-based Sex Offender Treatment Program and a pilot of AlcoTags as part of electronic monitoring.
Progressed a significant program of accommodation projects designed to consolidate the Department’s property portfolio and provide more contemporary, fit-for-purpose facilities.
Continued WorkSafe Tasmania’s comprehensive engagement program which saw inspectors attend 2,087 workplaces to undertake planned inspections, incident responses and investigate complaints.
Commenced work to establish Building Standards Tasmania in line with the Government’s 2025 election commitment.
Continued to progress development and implementation of major ICT initiatives including Justice Connect and PlanBuild.
Continued to implement recommendations of reviews and inquiries for which the Department is responsible. This includes the Commission of Inquiry with 35 of the 53 recommendations completed and substantial progress made on the remainder.
Launched a new high profile recruitment campaign for the Tasmania Prison Service, designed to support workforce growth and attract a broader range of applicants to Correctional Officer roles.
Continued to strengthen and expand the laws, systems and requirements that underpin Tasmania’s Registration to Work with Vulnerable People scheme.
Downloads
Department of Justice Annual Report 2025-26 (PDF, 4.4 MB)
Contact communications@justice.tas.gov.au for more information.
Visit the National Library of Australia for earlier annual reports.
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