Regional and remote courts across Western Australia will reopen almost a month earlier than expected after new security arrangements were finalised.
WA Attorney General Tony Buti said affected circuit court sittings would resume on August 3, instead of the planned date of August 28.
More than 20 regional and remote courthouses were impacted after WA's Heads of Jurisdiction suspended sittings from June 1 at courts without a sitting magistrate.
The state government said the decision was made because of concerns about court security and custody arrangements.
Last week, Kimberley Aboriginal leaders warned that the shuttered regional courts had cut First Nations communities off from justice, and called for local sittings to be reinstated without delay.
Marninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre (MWRC) chief executive Emily Carter AM told National Indigenous Times "justice should not depend on your postcode".
"Aboriginal people living in remote communities are entitled to the same access to courts and legal protections as people living in metropolitan areas," she said.
On Monday, Dr Buti said an updated agreement between WA Police and the Department of Justice had now been signed, and more police auxiliary officers had completed training.
"I acknowledge while the decision to temporarily suspend circuit courts was necessary to keep the public safe, it did have an impact on regional communities and court users," Dr Buti said.
"I am very pleased WA Police and the Department of Justice have now signed an MoU which can provide the confidence needed to continue the safe operation of those courts."
The suspension affected court users including witnesses, victims and defendants, with alternative arrangements put in place during the closure period.
Dr Buti said the earlier return was the result of negotiations between WA Police and the Department of Justice.
"Because of this work, and good faith negotiations between the WA Police Force and the Department of Justice, the Heads of Jurisdiction have been able to resume regional and remote circuit court sittings about one month earlier than expected," he said.
