Modern, safe courts and increased rates for Legal Aid preferred suppliers are among the key Queensland Law Society funding requests for the 2026-2027 State Budget.
QLS President Genevieve Dee detailed 10 requests for consideration in the upcoming budget in a letter to Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki this month.
The pre-budget submission follows on from the Society’s Call to Parties Statement setting out key issues of concern to the state’s legal profession before the 2024 election.
The number one funding call in the letter was for the continued funding for projects to deliver safe courts with modern infrastructure and digitised document management systems.
The letter stated that Queensland courts “needed modern, digitised court registries and systems where documents can be filed and accessed online, matters can be conducted as e-trials and parties can appear in court via phone and videolink”.
“This is critical to those in rural, regional and remote areas who cannot easily access a courthouse to file documents or attend hearings in person.”
This funding need would cover updated audio-visual equipment for all courthouses across Queensland, especially in the regions to allow local parties and witnesses to appear without the need to travel possibly hundreds of kilometres.
Upgrades would also include safe entry and exit points and meeting rooms for victims and families.
“It may also be necessary to provide for security personnel if the infrastructure is insufficient.”
At the recent 2025 QLS Chairs and Deputy Chairs lunch, Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the government had listened to QLS advocacy calls.
“Going hand-in-hand with a strong community legal sector is ensuring that our justice system and courts infrastructure also have the capacity to deliver justice where it is needed,” she told the gathering.
“Again, this is something your members advocated for very strongly. Again, we listened.
“We know that faster access to justice means better support for victims and safer communities.
“That’s why the 2024-25 Budget delivered $74.8 million for a long-overdue boost to the state’s court infrastructure.
“This includes funding for upgrades and additional courtrooms in Townsville and Mount Isa, and critical remediation work at the heritage-listed Bowen and Maryborough courthouses.”
Increased rates for Legal Aid Queensland preferred suppliers was the second key funding call and also features in the Call to Parties statement.
Referencing the Justice on the Brink report of November 2023, the letter states private practitioners provide 70 per cent of the assistance in Queensland but are withdrawing from the scheme due to the “inadequacy of remuneration as a result of both the hours allocated in each grant and the hourly rates paid”.
“The loss of Legal Aid preferred suppliers more acutely impacts regional and remote Queensland where it is difficult or impossible to find a local lawyer to, for example, assist in child protection, family law and domestic and family violence matters.”
Support for regional, remote and rural law firms was the third key issue with QLS calling for funding for a graduate solicitor program providing financial support for legal practices to recruit and retain early career lawyers (up to five years post-admission experience) to practice in these areas.
“Regional lawyers are the backbone of their communities,” the letter stated.
“When legal advice is not accessible, people are denied justice. This happens when the few local lawyers are overwhelmed, cannot take Legal Aid referrals because rates are too low, or are conflicted out-such as when the only firm in town represents the accused and cannot assist the victim.”
Other key funding requests include an independent statistical body to collate accurate information about crime rates and an independent judicial commission to preserve and uphold the separation of powers.
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