Regional centres have set example

BRISBANE is not the only city in Queensland with a Supreme Court.

A Supreme Court Justice has been permanently allocated to Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns.

Rockhampton has a population of about 75,000 — about 12 per cent the number of people on the Gold Coast.

Smaller cities around the state also have regular visits from a Justice for a Supreme Court sitting, including Bundaberg, Longreach, Maryborough, Mt Isa, Roma and

Toowoomba. The Maryborough sittings, which also cover crimes in Hervey Bay, cater for a population of just 70,000 between the two centres — about a tenth of the Gold Coast’s almost 600,000 residents.

During circuit sittings a Justice is sent to the town for about two weeks, staying in a hotel.

A Crown prosecutor and Legal Aid defence barrister are also allocated to each circuit sitting.