New appointment boosts District Court at Ipswich

Former Land and Resources Tribunal President Greg Koppenol has been appointed to the bench of the District Court at Ipswich, Attorney-General Kerry Shine said today.

Mr Shine said Executive Council has approved Judge Koppenol’s appointment to the second additional position created on the District Court this financial year.

“The additional position on the District Court was created by merging the Land and Resources Tribunal with the Land Court,” Mr Shine said.

“The merger allows for additional resources to be provided to the busy District Court and Land Court. Former Tribunal Member Paul Smith has been appointed to the Land Court.”

Mr Shine said Judge Koppenol had served as inaugural President of the Land and Resources Tribunal since December 1999.

“Judge Koppenol brings to the District Court a wealth of experience gained as President of the Land and Resources Tribunal and, prior to that, as a barrister,” he said.

Admitted as a barrister in 1983, Judge Koppenol maintained a busy general practice at the Bar, later specialising in native title. He appeared as counsel in the landmark Mabo (No. 2) and Wik cases before the High Court.

Mr Shine said the District Court at Ipswich has a growing workload.

“The Government has recognised the need for additional judicial resources with the strong population growth in the Ipswich region,” he said.

“The Government has also recognised the need for a new home for our courts at Ipswich and it recently announced the start of construction of the new $111 million legal precinct in the city’s centre.”

“This precinct includes a new courthouse, new watch-house and new police station. It represents the biggest infrastructure project for central Ipswich I more than a decade.”

“The new precinct includes eight Magistrate courtrooms and four District courtrooms. That is double the current number of courtrooms available at Ipswich.”

21 September 2007
Media contact: Kirby Anderson 3239 6400 or 0418 197 350
kirby.anderson@ministerial.qld.gov.au