Queensland Courts
Queensland Courts – Queensland courthouses are established in 64 locations with additional sites used to hear matters as required. There are 130 gazetted locations for holding courts in Queensland.
The High Court of Australia – The subject matter of the cases heard by the Court traverses the whole range of Australian law. It includes, for instance, arbitration, contract, company law, copyright, courts-martial, criminal law and procedure, tax law, insurance, personal injury, property law, family law, trade practices, etc. Most of the Court’s work relates to the hearing of appeals against decisions of other Courts.
The Federal Court of Australia – The Court is a superior court of record and a court of law and equity. It sits in all capital cities in Australia and elsewhere in Australia from time to time.
The Supreme Court – is the highest court in Queensland and includes the trial division and the Court of Appeal.
The District Court – deals with serious criminal offences such as rape, armed robbery and fraud. Juries are used to decide if defendants are guilty or not guilty. This court also hears appeals from cases decided in the Magistrates Court and disputes involving amounts of more than $150,000, but less than $750,000. A jury may be used to decide these financial disputes.
The District Court sits in 32 locations across Queensland. Judges also travel throughout the state to hear matters in regional and remote areas.
The Magistrates Court – is the first level of the Queensland Courts system. Most criminal cases are first heard, in some form, in this court. Most civil actions are also heard here. The Magistrates Court can deal with less serious offences (summary offences) such as traffic infringements, minor offences such as shoplifting or disorderly behaviour, and less serious offences involving burglary, assault, fraud and drugs.
The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) – deals with a range of matters including anti-