Child protection applications jumped by 22 per cent in Queensland in the last financial year, amid a broader downward trend across adult criminal charges, domestic violence applications, and civil matters.
The figures come from the Magistrates Court of Queensland Annual report 2024-2025, tabled in Parliament last week along with the annual reports of the Supreme and District Courts of Queensland.
Chief Magistrate Judge Janelle Brassington said the 2024-2025 data reflected mixed trends across the jurisdictions.
“In the adult criminal jurisdiction, there was a decrease in the number of defendants of 9541 (5.85 per cent) and a decrease of 17,009 charges (4.58 per cent),” Her Honour said.
“In the Commonwealth jurisdiction, there was an increase in the number of defendants of 141 (6.41 per cent) and an increase of 892 charges (15.08 per cent).
“Child protection applications increased by 1497 (22.59 per cent). Domestic violence applications decreased by 1986 (7.13 per cent). Civil claims decreased by 1600 (7.25 per cent).”
A total of 8123 child protection applications were lodged during the reporting period. Nearly a quarter of all lodgements came from two locations, Ipswich (14.24 per cent) and Beenleigh (9.75 per cent).
Child protection matters are heard by Magistrates sitting in the Childrens Court with urgent temporary applications also able to be made after hours by phone or fax. The report notes that while many applications are contested, a significant portion are resolved in court-ordered conferences.
The report also highlighted the Coroner’s Court workload, with 5990 lodgements, slightly down from 6071 the previous year.
“The Court achieved a clearance rate of 110.6 per cent at the end of the reporting period, which is an increase of 10.86 per cent. The finalisations included 20 inquests into the deaths of 27 people,” she said.
The small decrease in lodgements was attributed to ongoing system-wide efforts to reduce unnecessary death reports that fall outside legislative requirements.
Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) protection order applications dropped to 25,871 in 2024-25, almost 2000 fewer than the previous year. This represents a significant decrease from 2022-23, when 31,652 applications were lodged, 5781 more.
Beyond the seven existing DFV courts, coordinated DFV practices rolled out to nine additional Magistrates Courts in 2024-25, including Beaudesert, Caboolture, Coolangatta, Ipswich, Mackay, Maroochydore, Rockhampton, Pine Rivers and Toowoomba.
The Videoconferencing (VC) Uplift Program, a part of the government’s response to the Women’s Safety in Justice Taskforce, delivered upgrades to more than 20 regional and remote courtrooms in including integrated video technology and new remote witness rooms to support safer participation for vulnerable court users.
The courts’ Digital Services and Programs unit also completed its third year of modernising work, aiming to improve online access for practitioners and the broader community. A key milestone was the rollout of the DFV Live List across specialist and high‑volume DFV courts, offering more secure and consistent process for managing civil lists and strengthening safety and triage for victim‑survivors.
The reporting year also saw several judicial transitions, including the retirements of Magistrates Colin Strofield, Thomas Braes and Peter Hasted, the appointment of Judge Dzenita Balic to the District Court, and the addition of 12 new magistrates.
The annual report can be viewed here.
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