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Court charges to rocket

The WA Law Society has warned that above-inflation increases to more than 300 court and tribunal fees and charges from July will create a "barrier to justice".

The Government expects to reap an extra $31.2 million over four years after ratcheting up the fees an average 12 per cent - more than five times Treasury's projected 2015-16 Perth consumer price index of 2.25 per cent.

Budget papers justify increases to 13 Fines Enforcement Registry fees on the ground that fines are designed to discourage certain types of behaviour. But many of the court and tribunal fee increases relate to using the justice system, including starting Supreme Court action (up $116 to $1085).

WA Law Society president Matthew Keogh said court fees should never be based on attempts to recover costs.

Attorney-General Michael Mischin blamed the increases on "increased telecommunications costs and the need to further invest in information technology".