- Toowoomba Courthouse $16.1 million expansion project officially opens with new and improved facilities for DFV victims.
- The major upgrade includes two new courtrooms, a DFV safe room, vulnerable witness suite, and court registry refurbishments.
- Under Labor, Toowoomba Courthouse upgrades were significantly underfunded and could not have been delivered without Crisafulli Government boosting funding.
- Crisafulli Government is delivering faster access to justice and better support for victims, following Labor’s decade of decline.
The Crisafulli Government has delivered long-overdue upgrades to the Toowoomba Courthouse as part of Queensland’s Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Courthouse Improvement Program, which was left seriously underfunded by Labor.
The $16.1 million project includes two new courtrooms, a new DFV safe room, a new vulnerable witness suite and court registry refurbishments, to provide better support and to protect DFV victims navigating the justice system.
The upgrades are now officially completed and opened, with one new courtroom providing an improved space to hear DFV matters and another shell courtroom for future capacity requirements.
The additional courtroom space sets the courthouse up to handle future justice needs as Toowoomba grows. The new secure DFV safe room and vulnerable witness suite will bolster safety for victims and provide privacy and security as they prepare to give evidence and access the court.
The expansion project is one of the largest being delivered under the DFV Courthouse Improvement Program and represents the biggest upgrade to the Toowoomba Courthouse since it was constructed in 1976.
The Crisafulli Government has boosted investment in the DFV Courthouse Improvements Program to $67.9 million, ensuring projects can be delivered across the state to make Queensland safer and ensure victims can have their matters heard sooner.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity Deb Frecklington said the critical upgrades will create a safer environment for victims of domestic and family violence to have their matters heard.
“Victims deserve to be safe and supported when accessing court and these upgrades will ensure more security for DFV victims and deliver faster and safer access to justice,” the Attorney-General said.
“The Crisafulli Government is committed to putting victims back at the centre of the justice system and I’m proud we bolstered funding to save this critical project.”
Treasurer and Member for Toowoomba South David Janetzki said the upgrade not only makes Toowoomba safer but puts victims first.
“This investment strengthens our ongoing work to make our region safer and deliver timely and efficient justice for victims,” Treasurer Janetzki said.
“Having spent a decade as a lawyer in Toowoomba, I know how hard the local legal community has fought for these upgrades and it is pleasing the Crisafulli Government can deliver them.”
Member for Toowoomba North Trevor Watts said the significant investment was better equipping the court to deliver faster access to justice.
“My community has waited years for these much-needed upgrades, which will greatly improve the support provided to domestic violence victims who are pursuing legal protection,” Mr Watts said.
“Toowoomba Magistrates Court dealt with 760 applications for domestic violence orders and more than 1,600 charges of contravening a domestic violence order last financial year, which demonstrates the scale of domestic violence cases in our region.
“Major investment in courthouses in my electorate and across the state will help to address this scourge, while ensuring matters are heard sooner and offenders are held to account.”
Upgrades to Ipswich and Caboolture courthouses are already complete, and projects at Brisbane, Cairns, Maroochydore, Rockhampton, and Mackay courthouses continue to be delivered under the DFV Courthouse Improvements Program.
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