Completed upgrade includes courtrooms, domestic and family violence safe room
The Queensland Law Society (QLS) has welcomed the conclusion of the $16.1m expansion of the Toowoomba Courthouse, which now has new courtrooms, a dedicated domestic and family violence (DFV) safe room, and a vulnerable witness suite.
According to QLS Deputy President Sarah-Jane MacDonald, the upgrade “supports the creation of new domestic and family violence court systems, designed to protect vulnerable people and ensure that their voices can be heard without fear.”
MacDonald, who is a DFV solicitor based in Toowoomba, lauded the Queensland government’s courthouse improvement funding at the opening of the expanded courthouse.
“As a domestic violence lawyer, and as a DV duty lawyer, I see firsthand the difference that safe, purpose built spaces make,” she said. “They change outcomes. They change experiences.”
In its media statement, the law society explained that the expansion aims to help protect and support DFV victim-survivors, as well as improve their court experience.
“People must feel safe when they walk through these doors: victims, families, children, lawyers, staff, and judicial officers alike,” MacDonald said.
“Upgrades like this ensure victim-survivors feel safer and more supported when seeking justice, giving them the help they need at time when they are extremely vulnerable,” said QLS President Peter Jolly.
MacDonald shared that the Toowoomba community and local practitioners have long advocated for and expressed strong support for the enhancement of these facilities.
QLS noted that the initiative, delivered under the Queensland government’s Domestic and Family Violence Courthouse Improvement Program, reflects priorities raised in pre-budget advocacy and the pre-election call to parties advocacy statement.
According to Jolly, the advocacy document called on all political parties to prioritise improvements to the infrastructure of Magistrates Courts across the state.
In its media statement, the law society said it plans to keep helping the state government support investments in justice infrastructure throughout Queensland.
The state government announced the funding details for the $16.1m project at the end of January. The law society welcomed the announcement.
Within the last financial year, the Toowoomba Magistrates Court handled 760 applications for domestic violence orders and over 1,600 charges of breaching domestic violence orders.
