Specialist DV court set for Townsville
COURT FIIRST:: Corrallee O'' Rourrke and Annasttaciia Pallaszczuk att tthe Townsviilllle Courrtthouse yestterrday.. TOWNSVILLE’S first ever specialist domestic and family violence court will be established by the end of the year, with $ 9 million of capital works to be undertaken in 2018.
It comes after the Palaszczuk Government announced the funding in the State Government’s Budget in June with Southport having already trialled a DV court.
A specialist magistrate, who is expected to be appointed by December, will also travel for sittings at Palm Island and Mount Isa.
The capital works at Townsville Courthouse will be undertaken over two years and will provide a dedicated courtroom and safe areas for victims with secure access to the courts.
They will also include soundproof meeting rooms for parties to meet their duty lawyers and support services before court.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the refurbishment of the Townsville Courthouse would better cater for safety needs of victims.
“Funding will cover additional court staff, prosecutors, duty lawyers, support services for victims of domestic and family violence and perpetrator programs,” the Premier said.
“The court will manage civil domestic and family violence matters in Townsville and Mount Isa, and both civil and criminal cases on Palm Island.”
The Premier said the court would be culturally responsive for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander users.
“The specialist magistrate will preside over circuit courts the to be established in Mount Isa and Palm Island,” she said.
Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland and Mundingburra MP Coralee O’Rourke said the 2017- 18 State Budget allocated $ 69.5 million over four years to fund the Domestic and Family Violence Court.
“Nearly 20 per cent of all matters our magistrates courts handle are domestic and family violence related,” she said.
“Tackling domestic and family violence remains one of this Government’s highest priorities.
“This new Domestic and Family Violence Court based at Townsville is an expansion of the specialist court approach that has been successfully trialled at Southport.”
Ms O’Rourke said planning for the court and facilities upgrade was progressing, with Domestic and Family Violence Court Program representatives visiting Townsville and Palm Island earlier this week.
“Establishing this domestic and family violence court in Townsville, circuiting to Mount Isa and Palm Island, is another vital step in our reform program to help stamp out domestic and family violence in this state,” Ms O’Rourke said.