Funds to roll out domestic violence courts

DOMESTIC and family violence courts will be rolled out with a $69.5 million commitment in today’s state Budget.

The specialist courts will open at Townsville and Beenleigh, following a successful 22-month trial at Southport, with circuit courts at Mt Isa •Didgeridoo •Spear throwing and Palm Island. The courts will house magistrates with expertise in family violence issues, dedicated prosecutors, support workers and other staff for victims and the accused to get help. They were a recommendation from the Not Now, Not Ever report by Dame Quentin Bryce.

Attorney-General •Boomerang throwing •Dance performances •Cultural creations •Bush food trail •Aboriginal art Yvette D’Ath said the money would ensure the Southport court – where 5500 applications were filed in its first trial year – would become permanent.

Funds would also pay for a refurbishment of Beenleigh and Townsville courts – including safety precinct, specialist registry and court rooms – so specialist services could begin there too in the coming financial year.

The Beenleigh Court would deal with both civil and criminal matters related to family violence, while the Townsville court would initially just manage civil matters with a focus on culturally responsive approaches for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.

Ms D’Ath said the new locations handled the highest volume of domestic and family violence matters and dealt with the most disadvantaged Queenslanders.

“Domestic and family violence matters comprise nearly 20 per cent of the overall statewide workload of the magistrates courts,” Ms D’Ath said.