The WA Justice department spent $258,000 on custom-made file covers for its court records, while the state government racked up a stationery bill exceeding $37.5 million in 2017-18.

In September, the Department of Justice approved a contract for Castledex to supply 180,000 custom-made plastic folders to its magistrates and children’s courts over the next three years.

The customised file covers cost the Department of Justice $258,000. Credit:Department of Justice

A department spokeswoman said that while the department was moving towards a paperless court system for its criminal matters, it was expected to continue to require hard copy files for its civil matters.

“It is important for file covers to be durable and easily identifiable to protect confidential information and to prevent them getting lost,” she said.