STOP LEGAL BRAIN DRAIN

INSUFFICIENT workload and the supposed ease with which lawyers, defendants, victims and witnesses could reach Brisbane have been suggested as reasons for the Supreme Court not sitting at Southport.

Even a decade ago when the Supreme Court last sat here, those arguments could have been easily challenged but assuming they were correct then, it defies reason that could still be the case now.

In 2008 the city’s population was under 500,000. Now it is almost 600,000. The Gold Coast is the nation’s sixth biggest city. It is the fastest growing in the nation and, as figures show, will be a city of 1 million within 16 years – more than a decade earlier than expected. Experts predict it will overtake Adelaide to become the fifth biggest city by 2038.

Despite this, with the demands such growth in population and therefore crime and legal work place on the city, the Supreme Court does not sit here.

The Supreme Court of Queensland is based in Brisbane and does most of its work there. As its name suggests, it is the highest court in the state and must sit in judgment for matters from all corners.

Some judges are permanently appointed to Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns. The Supreme Court regularly sits at 11 regional courthouses. For example, a sitting will be held next month in Toowoomba, less than 130km from Brisbane and a drive of about 90 minutes.

But the Supreme Court has not heard a case here in 10 years. No Gold Coaster due in court in Brisbane would allow just 90 minutes, without risking the wrath of a judge. It is inevitable that not only peakhour traffic but heavy volumes at any time during a work day, or crashes, will turn the M1 journey into a trip of two or more hours.

Gold Coast lawyers, defendants, victims and witnesses have had to move with the times. Even a simple matter can turn into a four-hour return trip, costing valuable time and for clients, adding to legal fees.

The Government and the justice system have to look at the reality of massive growth on the Gold Coast and the impact on transport and indeed the level of crime. They have to shake off outmoded notions of what our city is. Like the bureaucrats in Canberra, they are blinkered by the view this is some lazy holiday spot. Tourism is certainly the major industry but the Gold Coast diversified decades ago.

The Supreme Court is to trial a twoweek sitting at Southport soon. The move is welcomed. We are sure the Chief Justice will learn of the huge change brought by a population increase of about 100,000 in the past decade and the demands that and bikie gangs, homicides, domestic violence, major fraud and drug crimes, have placed on the justice system. Ten years ago the Supreme Court handled 114 cases from the Gold Coast. In the 2016-17 year it dealt with 194. That figure won’t diminish.

But regular sittings every few months are not going to cut it, given the pace of change. The Gold Coast expects and deserves the Supreme Court to sit here permanently. Maintaining the status quo or handing the city an occasional sitting will not address delays, recognise the city’s changing status or halt the brain drain of fine legal minds who would gladly base themselves on the Gold Coast.