A community court liaison mental health nurse has been working at the Wagga Local Court for more than five years.

An adolescent mental health worker started there in January this year after funding was provided in March, 2010.

Neither of these positions exist in Albury and resident magistrate Tony Murray believes the situation should be rectified.

“That is an obvious flaw here in Albury,” Mr Murray said.

NSW mental health minister Kevin Humphries, in response to member for Albury Greg Aplin, said the location of existing courts were identified by Justice Health and the Forensic Mental Health Network in conjunction with the chief magistrate’s office.

He said the NSW Government in its present budget provided $3.1 million for court liaison services.

Mr Humphries said the Statewide Community and Court Liaison Service provided psychiatric interventions to those before the local court on summary matters.

It provides magistrates with recommendations that support the diversion of people from the criminal justice system and into community-based mental health services.

“The service operates in 20 local courts where it screens approximately 14,400 persons a year for mental illness and diverts 1550 mentally ill people a year into treatment,” Mr Humphries said.

“We recognise the need for court liaison services at smaller regional courts and are examining ways in which services can be provided within current resources.”

Mr Murray, a magistrate for 17 years, spoke about the deficiency in Albury following The Border Mail’s recent campaign for a headspace centre for the Border.

He said the programs provided by community court liaison mental health nurse Jayne Ross at Wagga were the most effective he had seen.

He said Ms Ross in some instances provided reports or treatment plans on the same day an offender appeared.

“In my view, the procedures in dealing with mental health matters coming before the local court need to be reviewed,” Mr Murray said.

“The most vulnerable in our community are disproportionately represented in custody.”