- $21.5 million Faster Justice plan to bolster our justice system to deal with mountain of cases delayed by Labor’s DNA Forensics Lab debacle.
- $12 million boost for more staff and better resourcing of Director of Public Prosecutions, with $6 million to be set aside to fast-track preparation of backlogged DNA cases for court.
- Additional District Court judge for Townsville.
- Commitment builds on previously-announced plan for a new assessment into the delivery of reform of the DNA Forensics Lab review by Dr Kirsty Wright.
The LNP has today announced a critical $21.5 million boost to streamline and boost capacity of Queensland justice services with its Faster Justice policy.
The policy is the latest announcement in the LNP’s Making Our Community Safer plan to ensure victims see justice as quickly as possible and restore safety where you live.
The LNP’s $21.5 million Faster Justice package will ensure cases backlogged in Labor’s DNA Debacle can be prepared for court earlier, giving victims the justice they deserve faster.
Under the policy the LNP will deliver a $12 million boost to the Director of Public Prosecutions for resources and staffing, with $6 million of that to be siloed for work on DNA cases caught up in Labor’s DNA Debacle and appoint one additional District Court judge for Townsville.
With over 40,000 cases to be reviewed by the DPP or QPS, and the subsequent cases that will progress through the courts as a result of Labor’s DNA Debacle, the task ahead needs significant investment.
LNP Leader David Crisafulli said the LNP would fast-track the progress of cases with more resources to allow justice to be served faster.
“The LNP’s Faster Justice plan will deliver victims the justice they deserve, sooner,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“Victims shouldn’t be paying the price of a Government too obstinate to admit the true failings of the DNA debacle.
“We know murderers and rapists could be walking free and at the current pace of review, they could be given this freedom for decades to come.
“Faster Justice will help make our community safer by getting justice for victims sooner and holding offenders to account.
“We will give the DPP the resources to ensure cases reach the courts as soon as possible and when they get there, the Courts will be able to hear those matters without delay.
“This is what our Courts have been calling for and what victims are demanding.”
Shadow Attorney-General Tim Nicholls said victims had been let down by Labor, both in the community and in the Courts.
“Victims are in limbo while their cases are languishing in the system, the LNP has the Right Plan to deliver them faster justice,” Mr Nicholls said.
“The court process is a lengthy and traumatic experience for victims and can take years for matters to be finalised which is why the LNP will properly resource our courts with the support they need to clear case backlogs that are leaving victims in limbo for years on end.
“Victims who have been waiting now for years under Labor’s forensic lab failures shouldn’t be left waiting longer for their cases to be heard in Court.
“Already we know 55% of cases have found new DNA results in the most serious cases of rape and murder after retesting, the LNP’s Faster Justice will ensure the DPP has the resources needed to prepare these cases without delay.
“Only the LNP has the Right Plan for Queensland’s future, including restoring safety where you live.”
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