To provide an integrated audio/visual system that can cater for remands, recalcitrant accused persons, circuit early arraignments, circuit civil directions hearings and remote witness requirements as well as put in place an infrastructure that will provide full video conferencing capability to any courtroom using I.S.D.N. technology which will provide world wide connectivity creating greater access to justice at a cheaper cost for litigants.

• The court utilises a closed circuit video system to enable a protected witness to give evidence from a location in the court building.
• A point to point macro link has existed between the Melbourne Magistrates' Court and the Melbourne Remand Centre
• A pilot program in 1997 at Melbourne Magistrates' Court, Melbourne County Court, Mildura and Moe Courts demonstrated the following strengths:

Remands	Prisoners can remain at gaol and therefore eliminate or reduce transport costs, security risks and minimise disruption to prisoners.
Pre Hearing Conference Interlocutory Proceedings	Solicitors and their clients interact with the court from any location and have access to the judiciary for circuit early arraignments, circuit directions hearings and other interlocutory steps on a daily basis without the judge, practitioners and litigants having to travel.
Remote/Protected Witness	Current remote witness system requires witness to give evidence from an office within the court building but outside the actual court room. This facility also provides unlimited opportunities for expert witnesses and protected witnesses to be able to provide evidence quickly, securely and cost effectively from any location world wide.
Expert Witness	Currently it is very costly to provide this type of evidence which occurs most commonly in medical/forensic science areas. Facility enables organisations like Police Forensic Science Laboratories as well as private practitioners to increase their productivity by reducing travel time and makes it more affordable to use intrastate, interstate and overseas experts.
Remote appearance by Counsel (DPP, VLA, etc)	There are instances whereby lawyers can adequately fulfil their duties remote from the court, increase accessibility and raise productivity utilising video conference technology.

The Personal Contact	Video conferencing will never replace the personal contact in the court room which the judiciary and court users feel is needed in some areas. It will only provide an alternative for those matters where such contact may not be critical to the running of a case.
Technical Breakdown	Like any technology, computers can malfunction and will require appropriate support.

The Evidence (Audio Visual and Audio Linking) Act came into operation in December 1997. It enables the judiciary to direct that a person appear by audio or audio visual link from any place within or outside Victoria or outside Australia.

From January 1998 to October 1998 video conferencing facilities will be installed at the Melbourne County Court (22 criminal courtrooms and 4 civil courtrooms), Melbourne Magistrates' Court (4 courtrooms), Supreme Court, Boards and Tribunals, Children's Court and the Coroner's Court, as well as country courts at Warrnambool, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Mildura, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Moe and Morwell. Save for Morwell (solely a County Court) and Moe (solely a Magistrates' Court), at all other country locations the facility will be available within the one court building in both the higher jurisdiction court and the Magistrates' Court, along with the protected witness room.

The Department of Justice has also installed equipment at the Police Forensic Science Laboratories and three private prisons.

To provide an integrated audio visual system which enables courts to be recorded for the purpose of producing a transcript without the need to have a recorder operator in the courtroom. Court proceedings will be recorded using audio and video technology. Video and audio signals will be transmitted to VGRS which will act as a central hub. Transcription can be undertaken by either VGRS staff or private contractors.

• Video and audio equipment was installed in courts 5, 7, 9 and 21 at Melbourne County Court and remotely at Victorian Government Reporting Service at 167 Queen Street where transcription takes place. System monitoring, diagnostic support and control of the system is provided from VGRS.
• Audio equipment was installed at Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Morwell circuit courts. I.S.D.N. semi-permanent links were provided to enable these courts to be recorded locally, sound transmitted via the I.S.D.N. links to VGRS offices in Melbourne. Transcript prepared by VGRS or contractor staff and the completed transcript transmitted electronically back to the court where the transcript is printed and distributed to the judge and litigants within the same timeframes as they could expect delivery when sitting in Melbourne.

Recorder Operator in Court	Video recording equipment removes the need to have a recorder operator in court. One recorder operator monitors two courts remotely from VGRS.
Remote Diagnostics	VGRS staff have the ability to electronically fault find, diagnose and remedy technical problems remotely.
I.S.D.N. Links	These links remove the need to have audio typists or reporters on site at each country location for the purpose of transcription.
Staff Flexibility	The technology gives VGRS much more flexibility in the use of its staff by bringing all transcription back to a central location which enables downtime to be minimised.
Service Equity	The technology enables the judiciary and circuit litigants at those circuit courts to receive equivalent service levels enjoyed in the C.B.D. in circuit locations.

Personal Contact	It is more difficult to obtain supporting information required for transcript production such as spellings, etc. VGRS requires appropriate support and cooperation from the court end users.
Technical Breakdown	Computers and telephone networks can malfunction and require appropriate support.

VGRS has piloted "Dragon Dictate" and "Naturally Speaking" software packages. Justice Teague and Master Kings from the Supreme Court have also "road tested" the technology. Whilst an exciting breakthrough, it is not stable enough nor does it enable an experienced user to complete transcription tasks with sufficient speed to replace existing work practices at present. The ongoing testing of this software will continue through VGRS.

A number of systems are available. VGRS have investigated several. At present the systems have not proved cost effective to justify extensive implementation.