STOP TAKING US FOR MUGS
WHEN the first Supreme Court sittings in more than a decade on the Gold Coast wrapped up late last month, we praised Justice David Boddice for the mountain of work he completed.
Justice Boddice showed he was determined to extract the most out of the Southport sittings, powering through 14 sentences, adjourning two others, presiding over a trial, completing an arraignment and dealing with one bail application.
But regrettably the Bulletin had to note at the time that it was a shame the same could not be said for the State Government. Today we have no reason to change that view.
This Government continues to treat the Gold Coast with, at best, condescension – but it borders on a contempt for anyone outside its sphere of influence in Brisbane.
Ministers prefer, when asked to make a decision, to pass the buck to senior public servants or, in the case of Attorney-General and Justice Minister Yvette D’Ath, to the Chief Justice.
Bulletin investigations this week have found that not only are Supreme Court judges appointed permanently to Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns, with regular sittings also held at 11 regional courthouses including Toowoomba, Maryborough and even Mt Isa, but over the border the NSW Supreme Court sits at Lismore (population 27,000), Orange (39,000) and Wagga Wagga (65,000).
None of them has the level of crime the Gold Coast has to cope with, and their populations come nowhere near that of Queensland’s second-biggest city and the nation’s sixth largest. Certainly they do not have the nightmare lawyers, clients, witnesses and families have in trying to travel up the M1 to Brisbane because this Government will not accept the city warrants a Supreme Court. Indeed, given the response from the Attorney-General’s office which continues the line “there are no plans for a permanent Supreme Court on the Gold Coast”, it is reasonable to assume the trial was held just to keep the Gold Coast quiet.
Despite the city – from its peak legal body down to the Mayor and the rest of the population – hailing the trial sittings as a big success, the Government prefers to downplay what was achieved. Instead of Ms D’Ath conceding there are grounds to establish a permanent Supreme Court presence here, her office continues to keep hiding behind advice it says it has from the Chief Justice that “there was not even enough trial work to fill a twoweek ... circuit” at Southport last month.
With respect, that response omits two important points. One is that the final Friday of the trial period was a show holiday. The other is that Corrective Services could not get the defendant due in court on the Thursday down to the Gold Coast from the Woodford prison in time. As we have said, the judge stationed here for the sittings did have plenty to do.
The Gold Coast is a powerhouse for this state and the national economy. Its Mayor is inviting the Government to enter a partnership to change the face of Southport, using city land for towers to house the public service as well as a Supreme Court.
Yet the Government maintains a condescending stance.
The Gold Coast deserves a lot better.