Gregory Andrew Benn, a legal practitioner for more than 20 years, was appointed to the region – which also encompasses areas such as Norseman, Laverton, Leonora and Warburton – on Wednesday August 17.

Mr McGinty said the appointment of Mr Benn would help reduce trial delays in some areas.

“The jurisdiction of the Western Desert, the Goldfields and the Esperance region is in urgent need of the services of a third magistrate,” Mr McGinty said.

“The criminal case workload in the region, combined with the areas of mining, coronial and family law, has increased more than 30 per cent since the appointment of a second magistrate in 2004.

“The Goldfields-Esperance region is experiencing significant population growth and the new magistrate will help to reduce trial backlogs.”

Mr Benn, who has previously served with the Aboriginal Legal Service and Legal Aid WA, will also work with the Aboriginal courts opened in Kalgoorlie and Norseman last year.

He will start on October 29 in Perth, and will be based in the Goldfields-Esperance region by January 2008.