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Latest news

Welcome to the Department of Justice and Attorney-General's latest news page. Click on a story below to jump directly to it:

16/06/2008 - Changes to bidding at auction

Changes to the auctioneers’ Code of Conduct, the Property Agents and Motor Dealers (Auctioneering Practice Code of Conduct) Regulation 2001, about bidder registration ensures that the requirements of the Code align with market practices in auctioneering, particularly in relation to livestock auctions.

The change will allow all auctioneers to register bidders prior to the bidder participating in an auction instead of the current requirement of registering bidders prior to commencing the auction. This allows a smooth continuation of the auction process without interruption because of the late arrival of potential bidders.

Because many bidders at livestock auctions and motor dealer only auctions are regular attendees at those auctions, the Code now allows for a single, one-time registration of livestock and motor dealer bidders when attending auctions conducted by a particular auctioneer. Livestock auctioneers no longer have to provide or use bidder cards or other similar devices identifying registered bidders at livestock auctions.

Attorney-General, Kerry Shine said the changes to the auctioneering Code of Conduct allow for a smoother auction process and arose from close consultation between the auction industry and the Department of Justice and Attorney-General.

16/06/2008 - Opening of the Hope Vale Magistrates Court

Magistrates recently convened the first sitting of the Queensland Magistrates Court jurisdiction in Hope Vale, on Cape York Peninsula. Chief Magistrate of Queensland, Judge Marshall Irwin, and Magistrate Alan Comans from Cairns conducted the opening sitting on Wednesday 4 June.

Previously Indigenous community members sworn in as Justices of the Peace (Magistrates Courts) had convened court to deal with simple offences. The opening was attended by representatives of the Thurrbiil Community Justice Group (CJG), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service, Queensland Police and the Department of Corrective Services.

13/06/2008 - Appointment of new Director of Public Prosecutions

The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine today announced the appointment of Mr Tony Moynihan, SC as the new Director of Public Prosecutions. He will assume the role on Monday, 23 June 2008.

Mr Moynihan brings the experience of a distinguished legal career to the office. In his previous position he was Deputy Public Defender at Legal Aid Queensland, playing a senior leadership role in the organisation’s legal team and responsible for its appeals practice.

Prior to this, he was a Crown Prosecutor in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. He was appointed Senior Counsel in November 2006.

Mr Moynihan has appeared in many matters in the Court of Appeal and is highly regarded by the legal profession and the judiciary. He is also active on the Queensland Bar Association Council.

Ministerial statement June 2008

13/06/2008 - External review: Sentencing in Cape York communities

The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine has tabled in Parliament the findings of a review conducted by Mr Peter Davis SC into sentences handed to sexual offenders in Cape York communities.

The review examined sentences handed down in Cape York sexual offence matters in 2006 and 2007.

At the request of Mr Davis and the Solicitor-General of Queensland, Mr Walter Sofronoff QC, the review was not released until a decision had been handed down in a matter before the Court of Appeal. This was to ensure the information in the report did not jeopardise the appeal in any way.

Review of Cape York sentences June 2008
Ministerial statement February 2008
Terms of Reference
Ministerial statement December 2007

06/06/2008 - Magistrates Courts historical display opens

The Attorney-General Kerry Shine today officially opened the new historical display at the Brisbane Magistrates Court. The displays are open to the public.

From the humble type-writer to digital recorders, the display traces the history of law in Queensland and shows just how far we have come. These displays provide fascinating insights for school students, court users and anyone interested in the history of the law in Queensland.

The three displays are:

02/06/2008 - Relocation of Office of Fair Trading public counter

The Office of Fair Trading's public counter has moved.

From 2 June 2008, it will operate in tandem with the public counter at Brisbane Magistrates Court, on the ground floor at 363 George Street, Brisbane.

26/05/2008 - Queensland Law Week 2008 wrap-up

Queensland Law Week 2008 (10 – 16 May) officially kicked off with the Attorney-General launching the event at the Law Week open day on Saturday 10 May.

The open day was well received and supported by the public as they took part in free activities on offer including tours of the Brisbane Magistrates Court’s state-of-the-art facilities, information sessions, and a legal and career path information fair with more than 20 displays.

Moot courts enabled visitors to see the court system work as the villains from Snow White, Robin Hood, the Three Little Pigs and the Gingerbread Man children's tales were charged with their fairytale crimes.

Visitors also enjoyed the fundraising sausage sizzle from which all profits have been donated to the Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House (QPILCH) Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic.

Throughout the week, the Attorney-General also presented the Queensland Law Week education pack to legal studies students in Toowoomba and Indooroopilly. Legal studies teachers and students around Queensland have found the packs to be a useful resource for the classroom with more than 400 copies being distributed.

Regional courthouses hosted a variety of activities including open days, court tours, moot court presentations and information displays. Each courthouse participating in Law Week was sent a regional kit with information from the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, the Public Trustee of Queensland, the Queensland Law Society, Queensland Corrective Services, Legal Aid Queensland and Queensland Courts.

A host of events also took place in Brisbane throughout the week including Legal Aid Queensland’s hypothetical, Queensland Law Society’s trivia night, the Supreme and District court tours, the Bar Association of Queensland’s production of ‘12 Angry Men’ and the Queensland University of Technology’s Law and Justice Students’ Association Law Ball.

23/05/2008 - Alternatives to high cost credit

Queensland consumers will now have added protection from high cost credit loans with the introduction of a 48 per cent interest rate cap inclusive of interest, fees and charges.

It is anticipated that the interest rate cap implemented by the Consumer Credit (Queensland) and other Acts Amendment Act 2008 will commence later this year.

The interest rate cap puts a limit on the amount of interest that can be charged on a loan and includes fees and charges. Prior to this Act, there was no cap on interest rates in Queensland and lenders could charge very high interest rates and charges on loans.

  Need help to pay unexpected bills - a consumer guide
  Alternatives to high cost credit - a consumer guide

22/04/2008 - Attorney launches new legal service for Ipswich

Attorney-General Kerry Shine, Member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan and Chief Magistrate Marshall Irwin launched the new Ipswich Community Legal Service at the Ipswich Magistrates Court today.

The Department of Justice and Attorney-General awarded The Advocacy and Support Centre (TASC) funding under the Legal Practitioner Interest on Trust Accounts Fund (LPITAF) grants fund to establish the service.

TASC chief executive officer Dan Toombs spoke of the need to have more accessible justice in the Ipswich community and Judge Irwin said the new legal service would benefit often nervous, confused and overawed people coming before the justice system.

06/04/2008 - Work to begin on new Mareeba courthouse

Mareeba’s new $5.3 million courthouse should soon begin to take shape with foundation works expected to start this month.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine today announced the courthouse tender had been awarded to Innisfail-based builder A. J. Homes Pty Ltd.

The new courthouse will include special waiting areas and rooms for vulnerable witnesses and victims of crime, as well as contemporary technology such as closed-circuit television.

This is the first stage of the state government’s $15 million commitment to build a modern, integrated police and court precinct in Mareeba. Work is expected to be completed by Christmas.

For more information and artist’s impressions of the new courthouse, click here.

06/04/2008 - New court service for Queenslanders

The Self Represented Litigants (SRL) Service is now up and running in Brisbane.

The service provides direct assistance, advice and support to people who wish to represent themselves in civil proceedings in the Brisbane Supreme and District Courts. User-friendly information will help simplify and reduce the complexity of court processes.

An information sheet, available from the civil registry counter, outlines the service's role, facilities and details of what it can and cannot do to assist litigants.
 
Further information will be available on the Queensland Courts website in the near future.

06/04/2008 - Court volunteers ready to help

Court Network for Humanity has settled into its new home in the Brisbane Supreme and District Courts complex and is now providing its service to court users.

The 20 volunteers are easily identified by their bright pink lanyards and clipboards and provide procedural information, referrals and support.

04/04/2008 - Attorney-General launches the Buy Smart Competition

The Buy Smart Competition 2008 was officially launched by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Kerry Shine on Friday 4 April 2008.
The launch was held at Mater Dei primary school, Toowoomba. Mr Shine took the opportunity to speak to the students about their consumer rights, how to budget and save, and how to stay out of financial trouble.

The competition is now in its seventh year. There are cash prizes for winners and runners up in each of the four categories (school years 3-4, 5-7, 8-9 and 10-12). Prize winners in each category will receive money for themselves and their participating school or organisation.

For more information, click here.

01/04/2008 - Queensland's 110th JP’s in the Community site opens in Cairns

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine opened a new signing centre at the Cairns Central Shopping Centre. Queensland's 110th JP’s in the Community program site gives Cairns residents even greater access to Justices of the Peace.

The new Cairns service will be available from 10am to 2pm every Tuesday and Saturday. The new site would operate in addition to three other Cairns JPs signing sites at the Stocklands Shopping Centre, Smithfield Shopping Centre and the Cairns Magistrates Court.

Mr Shine said the Queensland Government will continue to increase the accessibility of JP services across the state.

Further details on the JPs in the Community program, including operating hours of all centres, can be accessed here or by phoning 1300 301 147.

10/03/2008 - Consumer protection awards

The Queensland Consumer Protection Awards is the Office of Fair Trading's way of recognising individuals, businesses, community organisations, industry associations and the media who have helped protect consumers.

The Office of Fair Trading is undertaking a comprehensive review of the Consumer Protection Awards. The review will investigate effective and appropriate ways to acknowledge the important roles individuals, businesses, community organisations and the media play in creating a safe, fair and equitable Queensland marketplace.

As a result of the review the Consumer Protection Awards will not be run in 2008.

06/03/2008 - JAG reaches out to Sudanese community

The Department of Justice and Attorney-General hosted an information session to promote its services for more than 30 leaders of the Sudanese community at the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday 5 March 2008.

The evening was part of a seven-day “Community Knowledge” program organised by the Refugee and Immigration Legal Service (RAILS).

Attorney-General Kerry Shine opened the session and spoke of the government’s strong commitment to multiculturalism and the importance of providing services that are accessible to the multicultural community.

Mr Shine talked about the department’s Multicultural Action Plan (MAP) which has a current focus on informing African communities. He suggested that a similar information session would be beneficial to Toowoomba's Sudanese community.

Chief Magistrate Marshall Irwin delivered a presentation about the role and the work of the courts. This sparked a lot of interest from participants and Judge Irwin answered a variety of questions from community members. Judge Irwin told guests he was very interested in continuing a dialogue with the Sudanese community in order to make the courts more accessible.

Feedback from the evening was extremely positive and there were suggestions that more in-depth information sessions would be appreciated. Further information sessions are planned for Toowoomba, Caboolture and Logan.

27/02/2008 - Justices of the Peace Branch celebrates launch of new signing site

Residents of Cannon Hill now have even greater access to the services of a justice of the peace with a new signing site at the Cannon Hill Kmart Plaza officially launched by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice on Tuesday 26 February.

The site is the 107th community signing site the Justice of the Peace Branch has opened since 2003. Eight volunteers will staff the Cannon Hill site every Tuesday from 1pm to 4pm.

26/02/2008 - Queensland's 150th celebrations

2009 marks the 150th anniversary of Queensland's separation from New South Wales. The anniversary celebrations, which will run the entire year, will express the vision - "Reflect on our past, imagine our future" - and be shaped around four themes - history, people, places and future. The celebratory program will incorporate both existing events and new initiatives to generate interest and engage Queenslanders across the State.

To make the celebrations a success, the Queensland Government are working in partnership with local councils, organisations and communities across the State to mark the anniversary in a way that is meaningful for all Queenslanders.

Community funding program

To give all Queenslanders the opportunity to celebrate and commemorate the anniversary through activities and projects that reflect the unique culture, heritage and aspirations of their own community, the Queensland Government has committed $4 million to the Q150 community funding program.

Not-for-profit incorporated community organisations, local councils and tertiary institutions throughout Queensland are eligible to apply for grants of between $2 000 and $10 000.

Examples of eligible projects and activities include:

Applications are now being accepted from community groups wishing to secure funds to stage celebrations for Queensland’s 150th anniversary in 2009. The second round of grants will close on 13 April, with successful applicants announced in June, during Queensland Week. The third and final round will open in July, this year, with applications closing in September 2008.

Details on the grants program are available from the Queensland’s 150th celebrations website or by phoning the grant administrator on 1800 502 419.

22/02/2008 - Attorney-General launches the QIADP

The Queensland Indigenous Alcohol Diversion Program (QIADP) in Rockhampton was officially launched by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Kerry Shine on Thursday 21 February 2008.

QIADP commenced operation in mid-2007 in Townsville, Cairns and Rockhampton, with outreach to the areas of Palm Island, Yarrabah and Woorabinda.
The program runs for 22 weeks, with graduates transitioning from an intensive treatment phase, through to the rehabilitation and recovery phase in both outpatient and residential rehabilitation settings.

12/02/2008 - New civil and administrative tribunal for Queensland

A civil and administrative tribunal is to be established in Queensland, amalgamating 26 existing bodies. The new tribunal will provide a single gateway to increase the community's access to justice. Click here for more information.

08/02/2008 - FOI review

The Freedom of Information Independent Review Panel was established on 17 September 2007 to review Queensland’s Freedom of Information laws. Click here for more information.

04/02/2008 - Court in session in Torres Strait

The historic first sittings of the Island Magistrates Court on Saibai, Masig (Yorke) and Mer Islands took place from 29 to 31 January. Chief Magistrate Marshall Irwin and Magistrate Trevor Black attended a ceremonial welcome to the community on Mer Island.

Magistrates Court proceedings will expand to Warraber, Boigu and Kubin Islands with further plans to undertake proceedings in Erub and Iama Islands in the near future.

Court proceedings will be held on the islands with airstrips once every three months.

03/03/2008 - New courtroom operational at Townsville

Additional demand on the court facilities in Townsville has resulted in a new courtroom being established. The space on Level D of the Townsville Magistrates Court has been transformed into a functioning courtroom.

Matters have been listed every day since Court 6 became operational in mid-February.

07/01/2008 - Judicial registrar pilot underway

The two-year pilot program for judicial registrars is underway with four solicitors and one barrister appointed to fill the four newly created quasi-judicial positions. Two judicial registrars will be based in Southport, along with one each to be based in Brisbane, Townsville and Beenleigh/Beaudesert.

The pilot project will assist judicial officers in enhancing the administration of justice in Queensland Magistrates Courts. Judicial registrars can hear minor debt claims, Small Claims Tribunal claims, and some applications concerning civil, domestic violence and criminal matters.

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