- The 2023-24 Palaszczuk State Budget has provided funding for three new District Court judges.
- New judges will be based in Ipswich, Cairns and a third location to be determined.
The Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to ensuring all Queenslanders have access to justice has been strengthened with the announcement of funding in the Budget for three new District Court judge positions.
The new positions will ensure Queenslanders are able to access the justice system in a timely manner without unreasonable delays for defendants and victims.
Two judges are expected to be appointed Cairns and Ipswich shortly, with a third to be appointed at a location to be determined.
The Queensland District Court resolves serious violent crime matters including Domestic and Family Violence, and sexual violence.
The court sits in 32 locations across Queensland and all matters are presided over by a judge. Judges also travel throughout the State to hear matters in more remote areas.
The Palaszczuk Government has committed more than $34 million over the next four financial years to court operations and services.
The new District Court positions come on the back of the Palaszczuk Government increasing funding for the Coroners Court of Queensland.
Two new coroners coupled with a change of status from temporary to permanent for a third coroner will support a more efficient and effective coronial system, helping reduce backlogs, improve timeliness, and provide better delivery of trauma-informed services.
The increased funding is in response to research showing there has been a 27 percent growth in reportable deaths to the coroner’s court over the past decade.
Quotes attributable to Attorney-General, Minister for Justice and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Yvette D’Ath:
“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to ensuring Queenslanders have access to the law in an efficient and timely manner and that our officers of the court have manageable workloads.”
“We know that Queensland has experienced strong population growth for a long time now resulting in an increase of the number of people before the courts, the Palaszczuk government values our courts and the role it plays in our society.”
“Since 2015 we have appointed ten additional Magistrates, and an additional District Court Judge, these three new positions only strengthen our court system and protect the integrity of our courts to deliver law and order.
“The national Report on Government Services constantly shows that our Queensland judges and magistrates work efficiently and effectively, and more judges and magistrates will ensure that remains the case.”
