General News
18 March, 2026
$5M upgrade for courthouse
ATHERTON’S Courthouse will undergo a $5 million upgrade which promises to deliver better services for victims of crime and improve day-to-day operations.
Key features of the work include:
Upgrades to the vulnerable witness room, with a new video conferencing facility;
Improvements to the Domestic and Family Violence safe room;
A registry refurbishment to improve efficiency;
Courtroom joinery refurbishment, including a new bar table and public gallery seating;
Full air-conditioning, roof, ceiling and lighting replacements; and
Improvements to security systems and enhanced safety elements across the site.
The Department of Justice is working alongside the Department of Housing and Public Works to deliver the improvements, with work expected to start in the coming months.
“These works will ensure more efficient court services and provide a safe space so victims don’t have to sit across from their perpetrator when seeking justice,” Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity Deb Frecklington said.
“The Crisafulli Government has prioritised these critical upgrades to keep women and children safe across our state, just like we said we would.”
Minister for Housing and Public Works Sam O’Connor said the government was delivering practical upgrades to ensure regional courthouses like Atherton remained safe and had modern facilities.
“These upgrades are about making sure victims and vulnerable witnesses feel safe and supported when they engage with the justice system,” he said.
“Our $5 million investment in the Atherton Courthouse will create better spaces for vulnerable witnesses, improve security across the site and ensure court staff can continue delivering essential justice services for Far North Queensland for years to come.”
The project is expected to be finished in early 2027.
