More Queenslanders settle disputes by mediation

Record numbers of Queenslanders are settling their disputes without having to go to court, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine said today.

Mr Shine said his department's Dispute Resolution Branch had conducted 2377 mediations in 2006-07, up from 2115 in the previous financial year.

"An increase of more than 10 per cent in the number of matters going to mediation is extremely encouraging as it means more disputes are kept out of the courts," he said.

"This ultimately saves everyone time and money, and helps free up our courts by allowing them to deal with more complex matters such as serious crime."

In 2006-07, there were 2028 civil mediations conducted for matters including small claims and minor debts, neighbourhood, tenancy and workplace disputes, and property settlement matters.

Mr Shine said a further 349 justice mediations were conducted for criminal matters including common assault, wilful damage, fraud, shop stealing and stealing as a servant.

"The matters dealt with in mediation would commonly come before a Magistrates Court so it's no surprise that the courts referred more than half of all the matters that came to mediation last financial year," he said.

"Around 23 per cent of all mediation involves commercial disputes, with relationship and neighbourhood disputes the second most common matters referred to mediation.

"The average turnaround for resolution in civil mediations remained a consistent and timely 19 days while justice mediations were resolved in 39 days.

"My department has 214 mediators throughout Queensland who are trained to bring disputing parties together to talk over their differences and reach a settlement."

Dispute resolution centres are located in Brisbane, Mackay, Townsville, Cairns, Rockhampton and Hervey Bay. Justice mediation is available in courthouses in Brisbane, Ipswich, Townsville, Gold Coast and Cairns.

For more information on dispute resolution and mediation visit: www.justice.qld.gov.au or call the Department of Justice and Attorney-General on 1800 017 288.

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