Government committed to assisting justice administration’s “frontline”

The Queensland Government was committed to assisting the State’s Magistrates courts deal with its increasing workloads, Attorney-General Kerry Shine said today.

Mr Shine said the Queensland Government had created an additional four Magistrates over the last two years and it proposed the establishment of “judicial registrars” to allow Magistrates to focus on more complex and contested cases.

Opening the annual Magistrates Conference in Brisbane today, Mr Shine said the Magistrates Court was often regarded as the “frontline” of justice administration in Queensland because it heard more than 95% of criminal matters coming before the State’s courts.

“The number of matters coming before Queensland’s Magistrates courts is increasing,” he said.

“Nevertheless, the Magistrates courts’ clearance rate of matters lodged was very impressive. It finalised more than 95% of criminal matters last financial year (2005-06) and it finalised 105% of civil claims lodged over the same period,” Mr Shine said.

Mr Shine said these figures were testament to the workload and the work ethic of the Magistracy in Queensland.

“However, statistics do not reflect the complexity and diversity of matters coming before Magistrates across the State each and every day,” Mr Shine said.

“These statistics also do not acknowledge the pro-active work the Magistracy has done in recent years, particularly in the areas of the Drug Court, the Homeless Persons Court Diversion Program, the Special Circumstances List and the Murri Court.”

Mr Shine said legislation currently before State Parliament to establish the position of “judicial registrar” would further enhance the administration of justice in Queensland Magistrates courts.

“Under these proposed laws, judicial registrars will be authorised to hear less complex matters usually determined by Magistrates,” Mr Shine said.

“It is proposed judicial registrars will determine matters such as minor debt claims and small claims (claims under $7,500 in value); civil chamber applications; and domestic violence adjournments, temporary orders and orders by consent. This will mean Magistrates can devote more of their time to the complex and contested matters coming before the court.”

28 May 2007
Media contact: Kirby Anderson 3239 6400
kirby.anderson@ministerial.qld.gov.au