Juror pay freeze needs review: Hanson

Liberal attorney-general spokesman Jeremy Hanson said the current payment could prevent Canberrans accepting jury duty for fear of financial hardship.

Jurors could also face weeks without payments if a trial unexpectedly went for more than 10 days.

"If we do want to have diversity on our juries so sections of our society aren't excluded, it's worth looking at," Mr Hanson said.

"If you're self employed or in a small business, it could have a devastating effect. You would anticipate it would exclude people who are self employed."

If a trial is anticipated to continue for more than 10 days, jurors receive a weekly payment. Those who serve on shorter trials receive a lump sum payment. And if trials go beyond 10 days unexpectedly, jurors must wait for a single lump sum payment at the end.

Public servants receive their normal salary when performing jury duty in the ACT.

Minimum national employment standards dictate private sector employees must be paid the difference between their base pay and jury duty payments for the first 10 days of the trial. If it goes for longer,  employers do not have to pay, depending on the employment agreement.

For the first four days of a trial, jurors receive $107.60 a day, for the next six days $125.05 a day, and for trials 10 days or more $145.95 a day.

These payments must be declared to the Australian Taxation Office.

For a person in a trial that has continued beyond 10 days, on that rate, they would be earning $729.75 a week.

Jurors are also given a travel allowance of $18.15 a day.

"For most people in the ACT that would be adequate, I do note that parking in the Civic now is very expensive," Mr Hanson said.

A spokeswoman for attorney-general Gordon Ramsay said the payment was an allowance rather than a substitute for a wage.

"The payment is intended to reduce any financial hardship a person may incur," the spokeswoman said.

"The government is committed to enabling as many people called for jury duty to participate in the process.  This was reflected in the recent amendments that now allow jurors with a disability to be supported to participate."

Mr Ramsay's spokeswoman said there were no immediate plans to review juror payments.

Jurors can be excused if they can satisfy the judge that service would cause significant hardship.

ACT Courts principal registrar Philip Kellow told estimates hearings recently that the jury payment system was outdated.

He said the system currently allowed only one lump payment per trial unless alternative arrangements were made.

"The current system is about 20 years old," Mr Kellow said.

"The expected length of the trial is the main criteria for making periodic juror payments rather than making one payment at the end of the trial," Mr Ramsay's spokeswoman said.

Mr Kellow said the courts had been investigating new systems which would allow jurors to self-register their bank accounts as well as process their summons.

"I think we need to look at the ways in which people who want to do jury service can do so," Mr Hanson said.