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GC future plans should include Supreme Court
The development of a permanent Supreme Court on the Gold Coast is needed for the area’s long-term growth, according to one local lawyer.
Grace Ormsby
Bruce Simmonds, the litigation director of Parker Simmonds Solicitors & Lawyers, said the creation of a permanent Supreme Court on the Gold Coast needs to be seen in the context of the coastal city’s future growth.
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“To develop a proper commercial centre on the Gold Coast we need a Supreme Court with the justice and the prestige and benefits only they can bring,” he outlined.
In calling for a permanent institution, Mr Simmonds noted Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns as having excellent judges and a talented and competent bar to serve an important region of Queensland “but unfortunately the Gold Coast is not seen by the government or opposition parties to be as important”.
He said the Queensland government “needs to get over its 1950s mindset that because we are within driving distance of Brisbane (on a dangerous motorway), we can go there for all necessary state and federal government services”.
“The fact the Gold Coast, the sixth largest city in Australia with a population heading toward 600,000, is big enough to host the Commonwealth Games last year but not have its own permanent Supreme Court presence says much about the dismissive attitude our state government has to us,” he said.
