Paul Bennett
Retired Magistrate, Magistrates Court of South Australia
I was a magistrate from 2007 to 2025 (retired), primarily working in criminal courts in Adelaide, regional and remote areas, as well as specialist courts for family violence, drug and mental health offenders. I was the magistrate in the Nunga Courts at Murray Bridge (2013-21) and Port Adelaide (2014-23), and relieved in the Aboriginal treatment courts at Adelaide and Elizabeth. I was involved in the consultations for the Magistrates Court (Nunga Court) Amendment Act 2022 (SA), enacted 1 March 2023, which is the legislative basis for the Nunga Courts in South Australia.
Previously, I was a criminal lawyer and manager at the Legal Services Commission (1985-2001) and the criminal practice manager at the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement (2001-07).
Qualifications: BA (Hons), LLB, GDLP and LLM. I am a Doctoral candidate at Flinders University and the author of Specialist Courts for Sentencing Aboriginal Offenders.