The Queensland Government has announced a $34.4 million upgrade to the Brisbane Magistrates Court aimed at keeping crime victims safer.
The upgrades include a new secondary safe room, refurbishment of the existing safe room, and a new vulnerable witness space with video conferencing facilities.
The project also includes two new courtrooms, registry refurbishment, a new holding cell and secure dock, security, lighting, and improvements to fire safety.
Last financial year, the Brisbane Magistrates Court dealt with 2088 applications for domestic violence orders and more than 4143 charges of contravening a domestic violence order.
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said these critical upgrades would support victim-survivors through the justice process.
“It is all about putting the rights of victims ahead of the rights of offenders and making sure the justice system holds them to account,” she said.
The Queensland Government had injected a further $18.8 million to secure the complete roll-out of the DFV Courthouse Improvement Program across eight locations.
Work on the DFV safety enhancements is being prioritised and will commence in the coming weeks, while the broader capital works program will be completed over the next two years.
DFV upgrades to Ipswich and Caboolture courthouses are already complete, and projects at Toowoomba, Cairns, Maroochydore, Rockhampton, and Mackay courthouses are underway.
