Director-General's message
Phil Clarke, Acting Director-General
The past year has been one of significant change, challenge and achievement, focused on strengthening and streamlining departmental services and expanding the range of services underpinning fair and safe workplaces and the administration of justice in Queensland.
Responding to the needs of victims of crime, the department commenced a new service, Victim Assist Queensland, in December 2009. The new service has significantly improved the support provided to victims of crime who have been injured as a result of an act of violence. The service provides a one-stop-shop to help victims of crime more easily access financial assistance, complaint resolution and a range of other services they may need to help their recovery.
In 2009–10, the department established the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT). QCAT, which commenced on 1 December 2009, brings together 23 separate civil, human rights and administrative jurisdictions to provide a more accessible, convenient and effective tribunal service.
In September 2009, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland launched the Zero Harm at Work leadership program. The program aims to build a positive safety culture in Queensland workplaces to reduce the number and seriousness of workplace health and safety incidents in Queensland. Since it began, the program has attracted a high level of support from industry leaders.
Queensland courts continue to achieve high levels of performance. The Commonwealth Report on Government Services 2010 highlights that Queensland courts compare favourably to those in other Australian states and territories and continue to provide some of the most effective and cost-efficient administration of criminal and civil justice in Australia.
The JPs in the Community program continued to expand over the past year, with 13 new sites established across the state at Arana Hills, Calamvale, Proserpine, Sherwood, Biggera Waters, Maryborough, two sites at Pomona, Greenslopes, Raceview, Canungra, the Gold Coast and Mount Isa. This program continues to provide a valuable witnessing service to the community and contributes to the Government's Toward Q2: Tomorrow's Queensland ambition of Fair - Supporting safe and caring communities through the 2 500 JP volunteers who operate these sites.
During 2009–10, the department continued to educate and protect Queenslanders through a range of education, advertising and community engagement activities, including 40 free electrical safety seminars at 25 locations across the state. These seminars focused on working on or near exposed live electrical parts and were attended by more than 500 participants.
In 2009–10, the department’s State Penalties Enforcement Registry collected over $166.4 million—an increase of $22.6 million above the 2008–09 collection. This increase is a direct result of a range of new payment initiatives and enforcement measures introduced by the Government in January 2010.
The department is committed to closing the gap on the disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who come into contact with the justice system. The department has a range of programs aimed at reducing re-offending and providing a fair and responsive justice system, including the Murri Courts, the Queensland Indigenous Alcohol Diversion Program and the Remote JP Court Program. In 2009–10, the department commissioned reviews of these programs, with a view to further improving the department’s response. The department is also playing a key role in the development of the Queensland Government’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Strategy.
The department continued to support vulnerable people in the community in 2009–10 by coordinating Planning for Life forums across the state. A joint initiative between the department, QCAT, the Office of the Adult Guardian, the Public Trust Office, Seniors Legal and Support Service, the Community Visitor Program and the Office of the Public Advocate, these forums provide information and advice about enduring powers of attorney, wills, advance health directives and how each agency can help people plan for unexpected life events.
From 1 January 2010, Queensland private sector workers were regulated under the new national industrial relations system. The department continues to be actively involved in the development and review of policy with other state and territory industrial relations agencies.
The review and reform of our laws continued during the year. Acts establishing QCAT and Victim Assist Queensland were passed and a bill for the first stage of reforms in response to the Report on the civil and criminal justice system in Queensland was introduced to the Parliament.
Legislation to expand the enforcement powers of the State Penalties Enforcement Registry was passed during 2009–10 and is already having a positive effect on the collection of fines from defaulters.
Amendments to the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 reinforced the Government’s commitment to a sustainable scheme that maintains appropriate benefits for injured workers at a low cost to employers.
Other legislative initiatives during 2009–10 included:
- an Act legalising altruistic surrogacy and providing a legal mechanism for the transfer of parentage of a child
- new laws to combat organised criminal activity
- strengthened laws relating to dangerous sex offenders.
The department continues to deliver on its commitments to the Queensland Government's Toward Q2: Tomorrow's Queensland ambitions of Strong - Creating a diverse economy powered by bright ideas; Healthy - Making Queenslanders Australia's healthiest people; and Fair - Supporting safe and caring communities. The department leads by example in delivering projects that contribute to all of the Toward Q2: Tomorrow's Queensland ambitions.
I would like to congratulate and thank the staff of the Department of Justice and Attorney- General for the many achievements of 2009-10. Your commitment and dedication in delivering improved programs and services across Queensland ensures the department continues to meet the needs of the community and departmental performance objectives. I would also like to thank the department’s many service delivery partners for their contributions as well as the growing number of dedicated volunteers that so selflessly support the department and its clients.
Phil Clarke
Acting Director-General