Budget boosts frontline justice services

• $34 million over four years and $8.8 million per annum ongoing to address growth in criminal justice system.
• Coroners Court funding boost of $18.9 million over four years and $5.8 million per annum ongoing.
• QCAT receives $13.4 million over four years and $1.2 million per annum ongoing.
• Additional support for victims of crime.

Securing the operations of Queensland’s courts and enhancing support services available to victims of crime are key features of the Palaszczuk Government’s 2023 Budget.

Queensland’s courts are among the busiest in the nation, recording the second highest number of criminal lodgements in Australia in 2021-22 across all criminal courts.

To ensure Queenslanders continue to have access to efficient and timely justice services, the Palaszczuk Labor Government has committed $34 million over four years and $8.8 million per annum to address sustained growth in demand in the criminal justice system, particularly in the District Court.

This includes $17 million over four years and $4.4 million per annum ongoing for Legal Aid Queensland.

The Coroners Court of Queensland (CCQ) will also receive a substantial funding boost to meet community expectations of comprehensive and timely coronial investigations.

The Budget provides additional funding of $18.9 million to the CCQ over four years and $5.8 million per annum ongoing to support sustainable resourcing of the Court.

The Palaszczuk Government is also providing increased funding of $672,000 over two years to support the Queensland Coronial Legal Service’s legal assistance to bereaved families involved in coronial processes.

Increased demand for civil dispute resolution has also been addressed in the 2023 Budget.

The Queensland Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal (QCAT) will receive $13.4 million over four years and $1.2 million per annum to address wait times and backlogs, and to deliver an efficient and sustainable civil system for everyday Queenslanders.

In addition to securing the operation of our courts, the 2023 Budget provides substantial funding to support victims of violent crime and vulnerable people attending court.

Increased funding of $9 million has been allocated over four years to support victims of violent crime including domestic and family violence and to better meet the needs of property crime victims where violence, or a threat of violence, has occurred.

The Victim Liaison Service, which provides a critical link between the prosecution and victims of crime, as well as support information and referral services across the state, will also receive an additional $2.5 million over three years and $851,000 per annum ongoing.

Legal Aid Queensland will receive a funding boost of up to $18.6 million over four years and $4.7 million per annum ongoing to meet the increased demand for services from extending the protected witness scheme to domestic and family violence victim-survivors.

Other Budget highlights across the broader justice portfolio include:

• $32.4 million over five years and $6.4 million per annum ongoing to deliver responses to the Commission of Inquiry into the Crime and Corruption Commission recommendations and other reforms
• An additional $3.8 million over five years to the Director of Public Prosecutions to assess witness statements and manage cases in a timely manner
• increased funding of $3.1 million over two years to deliver timely adult restorative justice conferencing to address demand
• $4.5 million over two years to continue the specialist high risk youth court established in 2017 as part of the Townsville Community Youth Response
• $8.9 million over three years to deliver a fast-track sentencing pilot in four locations for 18 months to address delays in court proceedings
• $3.5 million over three years to support the implementation of community titles legislation reform in an environment of continued significant sector growth and increasing dispute resolution pressure.

For more information about the State Budget visit budget.qld.gov.au.

Quotes attributable to the Treasurer Cameron Dick:

"Queensland's justice system plays a vital role in safeguarding our communities, and this budget ensures they’re getting the resources they need.

“We’re also boosting the support and services available to victims of violence crime, including domestic and family violence.”

Quotes attributable to the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Yvette D’Ath:

“As demand continues to increase in each jurisdiction, our task is to ensure our courts have the necessary resources to respond to community expectations.

“This budget is investing in our civil, criminal, and coronial jurisdictions to ensure all Queenslanders have access to a fair and efficient justice system.

“We also recognise the devasting and long-lasting impact on victims of violent crime and this budget invests in support services to help these Queenslanders recover and re-establish themselves after surviving acts of violence.”

ENDS

Media contact – Cullen Robinson 0418170474