- Budget delivers the foundation for a fresh start with stronger support for victims of crime, more resources for faster access to justice and additional funding to fix Labor's DNA Debacle.
- $54.4 million to better support the justice system as Making Queensland Safer laws turn the tide on youth crime.
- $10.7 million to establish a Mining and Resources Coroner.
- $19.7 million for the Commission of Inquiry into the Child Safety System.
- $74.8 million for upgraded court infrastructure, including enhanced security infrastructure, maintenance, land acquisition for new courthouses and the DFV Courthouse Improvement Program after Labor left a funding blackhole and courthouses crumbling.
- $31.8 million for Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to bolster support for victims of crime and fast-track cases, plus $21.1 million for Forensic Science Queensland to tackle Labor's DNA backlogs.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering for Queensland with a strong focus on community safety, more support for victims of crime, and faster access to justice in the 2025-26 Budget.
The $2.163 billion Justice Budget lays the foundation of a fresh start to strengthen the criminal justice system and turn the tide on youth crime in Queensland.
The Government is delivering $74.8 million for a long-overdue boost to the State's court infrastructure.
The funding injection includes enhanced security infrastructure, uplift to the court maintenance budget, land acquisition for new courthouses, and delivery of the Domestic and Family Violence Courthouse Improvement Program, which will help keep vulnerable women and children safe in court.
The Justice Budget also includes increased funding of $31.8 million over five years to bolster the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, including increased support for victims of crime through the Victim Liaison Service - which under Labor was set to end this year - and to fast-track the preparation of backlogged DNA cases for court.
In the wake of Labor's DNA Debacle, the Crisafulli Government is delivering an $18.1 million boost in 2025-26 to maintain Forensic Science Queensland's operational capacity, with a further $2 million for essential infrastructure upgrades, and $1 million to undertake the independent DNA Review.
The funding aims to reduce Labor's major crime backlogs and conduct historical case reviews with future resourcing requirements to be informed by the outcomes of the independent review launched by the Attorney-General into Queensland's DNA testing operations.
This is in addition to a $50 million outsourcing program under the Queensland Police Service budget, which will see DNA samples for rape kits, most major crime cases and unidentified human remains sent overseas for testing.
Other key initiatives include:
- Increased funding of $112.9 million over four years and $29.9 million each year ongoing to the legal assistance sector, including to support victims of domestic and family violence. This will allow Queensland to unlock a further $828 million in federal funding as part of the National Access to Justice Partnership, taking joint investment to $1.8 billion over the next five years.
- Additional funding of $10.7 million over five years and $2.6 million per annum ongoing to establish the Mining and Resources Coroner to investigate fatal accidents on Queensland mine and quarry sites.
- $19.7 million over two years for a Commission of Inquiry into the Child Safety System.
- An extra $5.5 million over five years to deliver infrastructure upgrades, including an additional courtroom in Townsville and courtroom expansion works in Brisbane.
- Additional funding of $25 million over four years for critical remediation work at the heritage-listed Bowen and Maryborough courthouses.
- Extra funding of $7.1 million over four years and $1.9 million per annum ongoing to strengthen the independence of the Integrity Commissioner.
- Increased funding of $9.3 million over four years for the Queensland Intermediary Scheme in Brisbane and Cairns to help vulnerable witnesses to child sexual offences overcome barriers to giving evidence, after the service faced a funding cliff.
- Increased funding of $4.3 million over four years and $1.1 million ongoing for the Office of the Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management to deliver information, education and dispute resolutions services.
Treasurer David Janetzki said the 2025-26 Budget was about delivering for Queensland by helping restore safety where you live.
"We promised a fresh start for Queensland and that's exactly what this Budget delivers," Treasurer Janetzki said.
"After crises in youth crime, health, housing and cost of living, this Budget delivers the foundation for safety where you live, health services when you need them, a better lifestyle through a stronger economy and a plan for Queensland's future."
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity Deb Frecklington said the Crisafulli Government's 2025-26 Budget was delivering on its promise to support victims, restore community safety, and arrest Labor's Youth Crime Crisis.
"After 10 years of Labor, we are dealing with the fallout of the DNA Debacle and weakened youth justice laws, but the Crisafulli Government is rolling up its sleeves to deliver the fresh start that Queensland needs," Attorney-General Frecklington said.
"I'm proud that this Budget builds the foundation for Faster Access to Justice with extra courtrooms, along with more support for victims, and a focus on Making Queensland Safer.
"A Commission of Inquiry into Child Safety system is about restoring the safety of children and the safety of our communities, and delivering the reforms needed.
"This Budget also delivers a Mining Coroner, for the safety of Queensland workers on mine sites and to give families the answers they deserve after tragedies."
"I'm also incredibly proud of the funding secured for community legal services after Labor left them in jeopardy.
"Navigating Labor's budget blackholes is like walking through a mine field and the former government should be ashamed of how they neglected the justice system.
"As I have visited courts across the State, I have been told over and over again about maintenance problems and security concerns – and that Labor simply didn't care."
