Additional Queensland judicial positions

The Queensland Government has committed funding in the State Budget this week to appoint an additional Judge to the Court of Appeal, the District Court and an additional Magistrate, Attorney-General Kerry Shine said.

Mr Shine said these additional judicial officers would be a further boost to the efficient operation of Queensland’s courts.

“Queensland boasts efficient and effective courts. However, our courts have an increasing workload,” Mr Shine said.

“As Attorney-General, I have been determined to work with the heads of each jurisdiction and the Department to monitor resources and workloads.”

“The Government has responded to the need for additional judicial resources with an extra Court of Appeal Judge, an extra District Court Judge and an additional Magistrate.”

The Court of Appeal is a division of the Supreme Court of Queensland. It hears appeals from decisions made in the Supreme Court Trial Division, the District Court and from other courts and tribunals.

The District Court handled criminal and civil cases. More serious criminal cases, such as rape and armed robbery, are decided in a District Court. A District Court also handles civil disputes where the amount in dispute is between $50,000 and $250,000.

Mr Shine said he had been mindful of the additional resources required by the Magistracy.

“Late last year, I announced the Government’s commitment to an additional Magistrate at Southport,” Mr Shine said.

“The Government has also developed legislation to create the position of ‘judicial registrar’ and it has committed $2.4 million over three years for a pilot judicial registrar program to operate at Brisbane, Beenleigh and Southport Magistrates Courts.”

“Judicial registrars will be responsible for dealing with less complex matters coming before the Magistrates courts.”

“I am delighted the Budget allocates funding for an additional magistrate to conduct more frequent circuit courts in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Cape York and the Torres Strait.”

8 June 2007
Media contact:
Kirby Anderson (Mr Shine’s office) 3239 6400 or 0418 197 350
kirby.anderson@ministerial.qld.gov.au