Innovative initiatives to strengthen justice

The Newman Government is continuing to improve and strengthen the State’s justice system through innovative initiatives never attempted before in Queensland.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie said the 2013-14 Budget focussed on making Queensland communities more resilient, and this meant building a safer and fairer Queensland.

“We are getting tough on youth crime, streamlining court processes and tipping the scales back in favour of the victim,” Mr Bleijie said.

“To change the culture of young repeat offenders, we’ve had to think differently.”

Mr Bleijie said funding of $3.1 million had been allocated to expand the boot camp trial to Townsville, Rockhampton and the Fraser-Sunshine Coast.

“These camps are aimed at turning kids away from a life of crime through intensive physical activity, community work, mentoring and support,” he said.

“We’ve already had several success stories out of our Gold Coast early intervention camp and that’s why we’re expanding the concept to other parts of the State.”

Mr Bleijie said almost $47 million would be spent to continue the expansion and refurbishment of the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre in Townsville and for the maintenance and upgrade other youth justice facilities and courthouses.

He said $1.4 million in 2013-14 ($3.5 million over four years) would go towards the Newman Government’s Justice of the Peace (QCAT) pilot project.

“Under the program, JPs will hear some minor civil disputes in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal,” he said.

“Teams of legally qualified and non-legally qualified JPs will use their knowledge to come up with common sense solutions to disputes.

“Aimed at reducing backlogs, it will free up QCAT adjudicators to deal with more complex matters.”

An additional $3 million will fund the recently announced Racing Inquiry.

“There are questions that need to be answered about what happened to hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money during the previous Labor Government’s reign,” Mr Bleijie said.

Almost $1.5 million has been allocated to establish a new Building Construction Compliance Branch.

“The Branch will be charged with improving productivity, reducing costs and stopping unlawful industrial action which is costing Queensland taxpayers millions of dollars,” Mr Bleijie said.

Victims of crime will also benefit from a continuation of $2 million in funding over four years.

“The money will go towards better community support because the scales of justice have for too long been tipped in favour of the offender, not the victim,” Mr Bleijie said.

“$250,000 will also be provided to Women’s Legal Service, to support vulnerable Queensland women who are victims of violence and abuse.

“The Newman Government will continue to make Queensland safer and fairer by revitalising frontline justice services, cutting red tape and changing the way we tackle crime.”

Treasurer Tim Nicholls said the Newman Government was determined to rebuild the State’s finances so there was more money to redirect into core services.

“We want to provide Queenslanders with the services they want and expect, and that’s what this Budget delivers,” he said.

[ENDS] 4 June 2013

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