11 January 2021 – In the Magistrates Courts in the Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton Bay Regional and Redland Council areas from 6 p.m. 11 January to 1 a.m. 21 January 2021:
- All entrants to those courthouses will be required to wear masks at all times until at the bar table in the courtroom. Subject to any contrary order of a Magistrate masks may be removed when seated or speaking at the bar table. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in refusal of entry/removal from the courthouse. A mask will be supplied if needed;
- Staff serving at counters will wear masks and when in public areas; and
- Subject to the availability of prisoners, and directions by local Magistrates all matters will continue as per normal. Corrections will advise further on any changes for prisoners in Custodial Centres in the SEQ area.
The impacted courthouses include: BMC / Arrest Courts, Beenleigh, Cleveland, Holland Park Ipswich, Pine Rivers, Redcliffe, Richlands, Sandgate, Wynnum and Caboolture. The contact details for the relevant courthouses can be found here: https://www.courts.qld.gov.au/contacts/courthouses
Other parts of Queensland
Everywhere except for the greater Brisbane area courts noted above will continue to operate as usual but may also be subject to disruption in prisoner availability if a prisoner is in one of the affected SEQ centres or required to transfer there to appear.
8 January 2021 – In light of today’s restrictions imposed for those living and working in the Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton Bay Regional and Redland Council areas, the Magistrates Courts have provided further information on the court proceedings throughout the lockdown.
Greater Brisbane Lockdown Courthouses
The impacted courthouses include: BMC / Arrest Courts, Beenleigh, Cleveland, Holland Park Ipswich, Pine Rivers, Redcliffe, Richlands, Sandgate, Wynnum and Caboolture. The Registries and Courthouses in these locations will not be open to the public.
In these locations, physical appearances WILL NOT be required on Monday, 11 January 2021 ONLY. Instead, all matters will be heard via telephone or videoconference on this day. All hearings will be adjourned.
The Chief Magistrate will permit all parties leave to appear by telephone/video for the 9 and 11 January 2021. If you wish to appear by telephone or video please contact the relevant court registry phone or email with the header “URGENT COURT MONDAY: matter details”.
The contact details for the relevant courthouses can be found here.
If practitioners wish to apply for an electronic adjournment please send an email to the Court registry requesting an adjournment with a telephone contact.
If there is a requirement for urgent filing to be completed, please email the documentation. Messaging will also be on the Courthouse doors and websites which will provide contact information so that filing of urgent documents can be completed.
SMS messages will be sent to all defendants in the civil, child protection and criminal jurisdictions with a court date for Monday advising them not to attend the court in person.
Videoconferencing from prison may be arranged but no personal appearance from an SEQ correctional centres is possible until at least COB Monday 11 January 2021.
Formal information to this effect will be added to the courts’ website this afternoon but I am happy for you to share this as you see fit.
Other parts of Queensland
Everywhere except for the greater Brisbane area, lockdown courts will continue to operate as usual but, due to prisoner availability, it may be necessary to adjust listings in consultation with the presiding Magistrate if a prisoner is in one of the affected SEQ centres or required to transfer there to appear.
Similarly, we are anticipating adjournment requests where parties, witnesses or legal representatives reside in one of the affected locations.
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