$16m Toowoomba Courthouse upgrade completed

The $16 million upgrade of Toowoomba Courthouse has been completed, providing better protection for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence.

The project, announced in February, includes two new courtrooms, a new DFV safe room, a new vulnerable witness suite and court registry refurbishments, to better support DFV victim-survivors navigating the justice system.  

The expansion project is one of  the largest being delivered under the DFV Courthouse Improvement Program and represents the biggest upgrade to the Toowoomba Courthouse since it was built in 1976. 

Treasurer and Member for Toowoomba South David Janetzki said: “Having spent a decade as a lawyer in Toowoomba, I know how hard the local legal community has fought for these upgrades.”

Member for Toowoomba North Trevor Watts said the significant investment was better equipping the court to deliver faster access to justice.  

“My community has waited years for these much-needed upgrades, which will greatly improve the support provided to domestic violence victims who are pursuing legal protection,” Mr Watts said. 

“Toowoomba Magistrates Court dealt with 760 applications for domestic violence orders and more than 1600 charges of contravening a domestic violence order last financial year, which demonstrates the scale of domestic violence cases in our region.” 

Ipswich and Caboolture courthouses have been upgraded. Projects at Brisbane, Cairns, Maroochydore, Rockhampton and Mackay courthouses are also being delivered under the State Government’s DFV Courthouse Improvements Program.