Domestic and family violence

Many applications for a protection order, under the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 (Qld), involve a complex factual background and disputed evidence.  The making of a protection order is a serious matter, because not only do the conditions affect a person’s day-to-day life and relationships with family members (including children), but also the making of an order will impact on the respondent’s ability to hold a gun licence and, most seriously, any breach can result in criminal charges.

Several members of BrisbaneChambers have particular experience of domestic and family violence applications, both from the perspective of progressing private applications by persons in need of protection, and from assisting respondents to resist an application for an order.   They are able to provide the advice and specialist advocacy needed to navigate these applications, including:

• representation at the first Court mention of a matter;
• negotiating with the Queensland Police Service in respect of police applications;
• representing applicants and respondents on cross-applications;
• representation at contested hearings, particularly where the evidence may need to be tested through cross-examination;
• appealing against the making of an order or imposition of conditions, or the failure to make an order or to impose sufficient conditions; and
• assisting clients who find themselves before a criminal court when conditions of an order are alleged to have been breached, including defence advocacy in relation to bail (which may, in some cases, involve a ‘show cause’ situation), contested breach hearings, and sentence hearings.

If you would like to avail yourselves of these services, we are happy to discuss your options and allocate a suitable barrister for you: call Robin Slade Jones on the main Chambers number (07) 3181 5578 or on 0423 778567.