Opening of the Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law

 Acknowledgements

• Your Excellency the Governor
• The Honourable the Premier
• The Honourable the Chief Justice
• The Honourable the Treasurer
• Madam Speaker
• Shadow Attorney-General
• Chief Justices and serving Judges of Australian and overseas jurisdictions
• The Chief Judge
• Judges of the Supreme Court and District Court and Chief Magistrate
• The Master of the Rolls
• Representatives of the Australian armed forces
• Church leaders
• Directors-General
• Ladies and gentlemen.

William Murray, the first Lord Mansfield famously said that:

“True liberty can exist only when justice is equally administered to all”.

Basal to the equal administration of the law is a stable and independent superior court of law, and such other inferior courts which allow for the administration of justice.

I am pleased in this, the one hundred and fifty-first year since the establishment of the Supreme Court of Queensland as the superior court of record for this jurisdiction, the Supreme Court and the District Courts of Queensland now have a modern and spacious principal seat to equally administer justice to all.

In its hundred and fifty-one year history, the Supreme Court of Queensland has seen many developments —

The separation of the Court from the Supreme Court of New South Wales; The establishment of the High Court of Australia as the ‘Federal Supreme Court’ under the Commonwealth Constitution;

The disappearance of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as the final appellate tribunal of the Empire,

And the emergence of the High Court of Australia as the ultimate judicial tribunal of the land.

The Supreme Court has also seen the District Court come, go, and then come again.

Whilst I am a traditionalist at heart, The Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law is an architecturally impressive modern building.

Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done.

The use of glass in the new building assures the people of Queensland that their superior courts are open and transparent, figuratively and literally.

One of man’s great contributions to the world has been the development and stability of the common law.

And the stability associated with an independent and strong judicial system. Today, we don’t just recognise the opening of another government building.

Today, we recognise and pay tribute to the development of the legacy of those who have come before us in championing the rule of law.

Parliaments come and parliaments go; and, executive governments come and go;

But the stability afforded by a secure, and independent judiciary — that never strains to hear the sound of public sentiment — is fundamental to justice equally administered to all.

It is only fitting we name this landmark building after a monarch whose devotion to public life throughout the Commonwealth is something to be admired.

The court system, like the monarchy, has played an integral role in shaping Queensland over the past 150 years.

In this the Diamond Jubilee year, it is a wonderful tribute for the people of Queensland to name the principal seat of the superior courts in Her Majesty’s honour.

The Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law will result in improved delivery of justice services to Queenslanders and provide enhanced facilities for victims of crime, witnesses, jurors, lawyers, the judiciary and members of the public.

Located throughout its 19 floors are 39 courtrooms including a large ceremonial court, Court of Appeal, 23 criminal courts and 14 civil courts.

The Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law are a triumph and I want to congratulate all those who have been involved in bringing the Chief Justice’s vision for this project to reality.

Lend Lease, Architectus and Guymer Bailey, and Project Services all worked closely with the Department of Justice and Attorney-General and the judiciary to deliver this project.

While it may be located in Brisbane, I am sure you will agree with me that this building is a fitting flagship for the justice system in this State and one of which all Queenslanders can be proud.

As first law officer of this great State and on behalf of the Queensland Government, I am very pleased to now present to the Chief Justice the official key to the Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
The Honourable Jarrod Bleijie MP

Photo © Department of Justice and Attorney-General