As of Thursday 12 August 2021, Queensland courts are open and hearing cases.
Please note the following:
• Masks are required to be worn in courthouses in south-east Queensland (Local Government Areas: Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Moreton, Redland, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim) and Cairns and Yarrabah Local Government Areas unless you have a lawful reason not to.
• Masks are also required to be worn in other courthouses if you have been in south-east Queensland (Local Government Areas: Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Moreton, Redland, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim) or Cairns and Yarrabah Local Government Areas within the last 14 days.
• If you have a lawful reason not to wear a mask, please contact the local courthouse before attending to discuss how they can support your court appearance or provide court services.
• The Cape circuits will continue via AVL links from Cairns. Duty lawyers and Prosecutions have the courts’ leave to appear in the courtroom.
Corrective Services
All correctional centres and Community Corrections locations in Queensland will move to Stage 1 operations, effective from 6am tomorrow 13 August 2021.
In Stage 1, personal and professional (including legal) visits to prisoners again resume, with bookings for personal visits able to taken from tomorrow. Restrictions to visiting a centre will still apply for those who have travelled overseas within the past 14 days, if they have visited or travelled through declared hotspots as identified or otherwise advised by Queensland Health (QH) in the last 14 days, or if they exhibit cold/flu like symptoms. Prisoners are not required to isolate upon reception to a correctional centre including upon return from any court appearance in Stage 1 (unless advised otherwise by QH).
In line with current community restrictions, mandatory mask wearing by visitors will continue in Lotus Glen Correctional Centre and all centres from Woodford Correctional Centre (inclusive) south to the border. Face masks in Maryborough, Capricornia, and Townsville Correctional Centres are to be worn where social distancing cannot be maintained.
QCAT
QCAT’s Brisbane Registry at 259 Queen Street will return to normal operations from Wednesday 11 August.
Practice Direction No.3 of 2021 has been updated to reflect the new arrangements and the QCAT Registry is again open to the public. For information about arrangements at local courthouses, please visit the Queensland Courts website.
Supreme Court Library Queensland
Supreme Court Library Queensland has reopened to the public from Monday 9 August, including after-hours access for registered practitioners. Library visitors must wear a face mask and observe physical distancing rules and restrictions. They are also encouraged to check in with the Check In Qld app at Courts Security on ground floor.
See sclqld.org.au/covid-19 for more information.
Is my firm an essential service?
Cairns firms are in the same position that south-east Queensland firms were in from 4 August; they are essential services but can only have essential workers present in the office. Read more
MORE INFORMATION – see the FAQ page at qls.com.au
Access Queensland Health information on restrictions and COVID-19 data.
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