JP QCAT Trial marks 6 month milestone

More than 1,400 matters have been heard since the Newman Government’s JP QCAT Trial commenced six months ago saving taxpayers money and valuable Queensland court time.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie today marked the six month milestone of the trial in Townsville speaking to hundreds of hard working JPs in the local community.

“JPs play a vital role in administering justice in the community and the success seen so far in the trial is a testament to their professionalism and experience,” Mr Bleijie said.

“We are freeing up the court system and getting through the backlog left by Labor and its mismanagement of the Queensland court system.

Mr Bleijie said in the past six months 109 legally and non-legally qualified JP’s have heard 1,456 matters over 5 trial sites across Queensland reducing the significant burden on the Courts.

“In just six months, the overall time to hear certain QCAT matters has almost halved with adjudicators now able to focus on more complex matters,” Mr Bleijie said.

“Coolangatta no longer receives spill over applications from Southport Courthouse due to the success of the trial in Southport.

“This common sense approach to hearing minor civil dispute matters is clearly having a big impact for the better and revitalising frontline services as we promised to at the election.

“On the back of its success, I’m pleased to announce a further two legally qualified JPs in Townsville are being recommended to the Governor, for appointment in the coming weeks.

“We are committed to making our courts system the best in the nation and with this trial we’re proving we are well on our way to achieving that.”

Mr Bleijie said the trial plays an integral part in delivering swift and fair justice in Queensland while providing JPs the opportunity to have more involvement in the community.

“In the past 18 months, we have engaged heavily with the wider JP community rolling out more professional development courses than ever before as well as making other improvements to the JP system including refocusing the JP Branch to better assist and support all our JPs,” he said.

“Feedback from JPs has been very positive and I would like to thank them all for their continued contribution.

“Many JPs in the trial have also commented on the benefits the program has had both on a personal and professional level and that is terrific to hear.

“With the review process of the trial about to begin, I look forward to seeing and hearing more successful outcomes in months to come.”

[ENDS] 4 December 2013

Media Contact: Ashley McDermid 0412 731 355 or Katherine Hornbuckle 0402 862 351

Number of Hearings in the five trial sites across Queensland