"You go to a court house in Sydney and you go through metal detectors," Mr Donato said.

"We still don't have any in Orange. Anyone who comes into the court room could be concealing a weapon.

"Most court houses in the bush don't have these devices for the safety of the staff or public. Courts can be volatile places."

Occasionally individuals are searched for weapons before entering a court room in Orange and in other regional areas.

A pair of men were searched before appearing in Orange District Court last year, and this year others were searched at Mudgee.

Mr Donato first raised the issue in relation to an amendment to the Court Security Act 2005, in August 2017 when he said bladed items such as knives, scissors and pocket knives were often seized at courts that use detection devices.

The amendment was about increasing the penalty for knife possession in court to $2200 and/or two years' jail.

"I note that not all regional courts have appropriate metal scanning and detecting devices. None have a Smiths Detection scanner similar to what is used at airports," he said.

“Many regional courthouses are small. The prosecutor, solicitors, magistrate and court staff, as well as people in the gallery, sit in close proximity, and it would only take one crazy person who is able to secrete a knife into the courthouse to inflict serious harm.”

Aboriginal Legal Service acting Chief Executive Officer Janelle Clarke said ALS solicitors spend long hours at the court so the organisation was not opposed to improving safety.

"If it is for the safety of our staff, clients and their families and friends, then yes, there should a security system for all visitors who attend the court," she said.

“There are security systems installed in other courts, for example, Dubbo.”