Mackay veterans slam Anzac Day Qld court openings

Veterans have shared their outrage over learning Queensland courts will open on Anzac Day out of ‘fairness’ to alleged criminals arrested the night before.

RSL Central Queensland District deputy president John Edwards says it is ‘un-Australian’ for courts to open on Anzac Day. Picture: Tony Martin

Veterans have shared their outrage over learning Queensland courts will open on Anzac Day out of “fairness” to alleged criminals.

Dr Kerry Summerscales – who served in the Australian Defence Force for 30 years including at Bougainville, Timor-Leste and the Solomon Islands – said it was “appalling” Mackay Magistrates Court would open on Thursday.

“It’s a day of reflection and remembrance and I’m sure that one day of justice in the court can wait to remember those who fought to ensure we have the freedoms that we do, to ensure we have the justice that we do,” Dr Summerscales said.

The Mackay GP said the “respectful thing to do” was to delay opening until noon to allow police officers and others in the court, “who may well be veterans themselves” to attend a march or service and honour “those who’ve gone before us”.

Dr Kerry Summerscales believes it is disrespectful for the courts to open before noon on April 25. Picture: Michaela Harlow

Sharing her sentiments was fellow Mackay veteran John Edwards who was a reservist with the Royal Queensland Regiment for about a decade.

“It is un-Australian,” the RSL Central Queensland District deputy president said.

“They (alleged criminals) had no interest in Anzac Day otherwise they wouldn’t have committed a crime.”

RSL Central Queensland District deputy president John Edwards at the Cenotaph in Jubilee Park, Mackay. Picture: Tony Martin

Mackay Regional Council mayor Greg Williamson, who served with the Australian Air Force Cadets, said he thought April 25 was a “sacrosanct” day.

“There’s not many of them on the calendar these days that the nation pauses everything for a very good reason,” Mr Williamson said.

New Zealand born veteran Reay Tuck, Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson, Vietnam War veteran and Victoria Cross recipient Keith Payne, Australian Air Force Cadets Squadron Leader Geoff Strange and Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert at the Mackay Main Anzac Day Service, 2021. Picture: Heidi Petith

“I think it’s something that we need some very explanation about why they (the courts) would see fit to actually have this state service running on Anzac Day of all days.”

For Dawson MP Andrew Willcox, it’s an indication of the seriousness of Queensland’s crime problem.
“For me, ANZAC Day is one of the most sacred days of the yearly calendar and I don’t believe that the courts should be operating on ANZAC Day,” he said.

“The matters should be held over to the following day and I think that it’s a shame that the criminal situation is so bad that this has even had to have been considered.”

It is understood Mackay Magistrates Court will process matters for persons arrested in Mackay and regional areas like Proserpine and Emerald.

 

The Daily Mercury asked the Department of Justice and Attorney-General what other Queensland courts were open but did not receive an answer.

“Courthouses around Queensland respect the Anzac tradition like all other agencies and businesses and are not open for general business on 25 April,” a department spokesman said.

“However, as is the case with Good Friday and other significant days, Magistrates Courts operate under alternate arrangements to hear urgent matters in the interest of safety to the community, and fairness to a defendant.”