Opinion: Mayor Tom Tate explains why the Gold Coast should have its own Supreme Court

AS the sixth largest city in Australia, it makes sense that our legal services are here on the Gold Coast, writes Mayor Tom Tate. This is why we need a Supreme Court here.

OUR city is maturing rapidly as we embrace game-changing economic opportunities locally, nationally and internationally.

A lot of commentary focuses on the economic pillars we are seeking to strengthen — arts and culture; health and medical research; events; tertiary education and marine industries - but one of the greatest attributes of our city is its social fabric, borne out through volunteering, family unity and the wonderful work of our care organisations.

Our city, touching on 600,000 residents and 13 million annual visitors, is now at the stage where key State and Federal agencies must have a greater physical presence on the Gold Coast.

Establishing a Supreme Court here will have a two-fold effect — it will relieve the Brisbane-based Supreme Court of the hundreds of cases that arise annually in the southeast region including the Gold Coast and surrounds; and it will demonstrate that we are not a poor-cousin regional city to Brisbane.

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After all, as the sixth largest city in Australia, it makes sense that our legal services, and the legal needs of our residents, are supported at district and state levels.