- Cairns Courthouse will receive a $19.3 million upgrade, including new DFV courtroom, safe room, and security improvements.
- The Crisafulli Government's investment has boosted Queensland's Domestic and Family Violence Courthouse Improvement Program to almost $68 million funding.
- Under Labor, Cairns Courthouse upgrades were significantly underfunded and could not have been delivered without Crisafulli Government's budget boost.
- The Crisafulli Government is putting victims first and delivering on its commitment to help make Queensland safer.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering better support for victim-survivors with upgrades to the Cairns Courthouse as part of Queensland's Domestic and Family Violence Courthouse Improvement Program.
The $19.3 million funding boost will ensure long-overdue upgrades are completed following Labor's decade of decline, which left the statewide program seriously underfunded.
The Cairns Courthouse DFV project includes construction of a new courtroom dedicated to DFV matters, a new secure DFV safe room, and refurbishment of two existing courtrooms, ensuring victim-survivors can have their matters heard sooner.
Safety will be further bolstered with a security upgrade to the entry. The court registry will also be refurbished to accommodate new DFV resources.
This major upgrade supports enhanced delivery of DFV justice services at Cairns Magistrates Court, which dealt with 1,172 applications for domestic violence orders and more than 2,908 charges of contravening a domestic violence order last financial year.
The ongoing site works build on several upgrades that have already been completed under this project, including the addition of three new interview rooms, a new DFV counter, and two new magistrates chambers.
This additional investment lifts total funding for the Domestic and Family Violence Courthouse Improvement Program to almost $68 million across Queensland.
This increased security and safety for victims is just one of the ways the Crisafulli Government is delivering a fresh start and making Queensland safer, with the project expected to be completed in early 2027.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity Deb Frecklington said every Queenslander deserved to be safe and supported when seeking justice.
"The Cairns Courthouse is a specialist DFV court and this upgrade is the largest project being delivered under the program," the Attorney-General said.
"The Crisafulli Government firmly believes that everyone deserves to be safe when seeking justice, which is why we have bolstered funding to save this project after Labor left this program underfunded.
"It is all about delivering faster and safer access to justice for DFV victim-survivors and ensuring offenders are held to account."
Member for Barron River Bree James said that as one of the busiest courthouses in the state, these upgrades would help prevent victims coming into contact with their perpetrators.
"These upgrades have been designed to protect victims from intimidation, offering a calm environment where they can feel safe and supported during what is often a very stressful process," Ms James said.
"It's all about vulnerable Queenslanders navigating the justice system without fear."
Member for Mulgrave Terry James said the program was great news for his electorate.
"Unfortunately, our region seems to be a hotspot for domestic violence and improving facilities makes the process easier for victims," Mr James said.
"We are always pleased to see worthy funding in our patch, especially when it will improve services for residents."
Upgrades to Ipswich and Caboolture courthouses are already complete, and projects at Brisbane, Maroochydore, Rockhampton, Toowoomba, and Mackay courthouses continue to be delivered under the DFV Courthouse Improvement Program.
