Domestic and Family Violence Court extended to Beenleigh

The Palaszczuk Government will spend $11 million in capital works funding over two years to establish Domestic and Family Violence Courts in Beenleigh.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath said project planning had commenced and $5.5 million was allocated for the works in the 2017–18 budget.

“The permanent fully integrated DFV court at Beenleigh will grow to manage all civil and criminal domestic and family violence matters after a major refurbishment of the Beenleigh Court House,” Mrs D’Ath said.

“The refurbishment will include a second dedicated domestic and family violence court room, a safety precinct for women, a specialist court registry and extra meeting rooms.”

Mrs D’Ath said the new works were expected to be completed in the 2018-2019 financial year; the budget also funds a dedicated Magistrate for the facility.

“The new domestic and family violence court at Beenleigh is an expansion of the domestic and family violence court approach that has been successfully trialled at Southport,” Mrs D’Ath said. 

“The domestic and family violence court at Southport will continue as part of an overall $69.5 million State Government domestic and family violence package over four years. 

“Nearly 20 per cent of the overall state wide workload of the Magistrates Court now involves domestic and family violence. It is, sadly, core work for Queensland’s courts,” Mrs D’Ath said. 

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman said tackling domestic and family violence remained one of the Palaszczuk Government’s highest priorities. 

“When women make the brave decision to leave a violent relationship they need to feel safe and they need to be supported,” Ms Fentiman said. 

“We have brought Domestic and Family Violence out from behind closed doors and more and more victims now have the confidence to reach out and seek help, so we need to have safe places for them and their children. 

“I am encouraged by the success of the Domestic and Family Violence Court trial at Southport and I am so pleased to see it expanding to my own local court at Beenleigh, and also to North Queensland through the Townsville Court. 

“Domestic and family violence is one of the most complex, insidious and damaging issues affecting Queensland communities – impacting the lives of children, women, men and families, and causing harm across generations,” Ms Fentiman said. 

“This latest funding is another example of our Government delivering on our commitment to evidence-based policy.”

“Recent changes introduced by our Government mean domestic and family violence protection orders now last for five years instead of two, unless a court orders otherwise, giving victims more than double the period. 

More information about changes strengthening the justice system responses to domestic and family violence is available at www.communities.qld.gov.au/gateway/end-domestic-family-violence/.

Media contact:  

Attorney-General: 0437 696 809

Minister Fentiman: 0428 744 749