Supreme Court of Queensland Act 1991Criminal Practice (Fees and Allowances) Regulation 2021Part 1Preliminary1Short titleThis regulation may be cited as the Criminal Practice (Fees and Allowances) Regulation 2021.2CommencementThis regulation commences on 1 September 2021.3DefinitionsThe dictionary in schedule 3 defines particular words used in this regulation.Part 2Fees4Fees(1)The fees payable under the Act in relation to a criminal proceeding are stated in schedule 1.(2)A reference in schedule 1 to a rule is a reference to a rule of the Criminal Practice Rules 1999.4ARounding of amounts expressed as numbers of fee units(1)This section applies for working out the amount of a fee expressed in this regulation as a number of fee units.(2)For the purpose of the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, section 48C(3), the amount is to be rounded—(a)if the result is not more than $100—to the nearest multiple of 5 cents (rounding one-half upwards); or(b)if the result is more than $100 but not more than $1,000—to the nearest multiple of 10 cents (rounding one-half upwards); or(c)if the result is more than $1,000 but not more than $5,000—to the nearest dollar (rounding one-half upwards).
Example for paragraph (a)—If a fee were 35 fee units and the value of a fee unit were $1.015, the number of dollars obtained by multiplying 35 by $1.015 would be $35.525. Because $35.525 is halfway between $35.50 and $35.55, it is rounded upwards, so the amount of the fee would be $35.55.s 4A ins 2022 SL No. 79 s 55Part 3Allowances for particular prosecution witnesses5Application of partThis part applies in relation to a prosecution witness who attends court to give evidence in a criminal proceeding, other than a prosecution witness who is—(a)a police officer; or(b)a prisoner.
6Types of allowances(1)A travelling allowance is a payment made towards meeting the expenses the prosecution witness incurs in travelling to and from court.(2)A meal allowance is a payment made towards meeting the expenses the prosecution witness incurs for meals if the witness is necessarily absent from the witness’s residence or place of work to attend court.(3)An accommodation allowance is a payment made towards meeting the expenses the prosecution witness incurs for accommodation if the witness is necessarily absent from the witness’s residence overnight to attend court. (4)A loss of earnings allowance is a payment made towards meeting the loss of earnings the prosecution witness incurs if the witness is necessarily absent from the witness’s residence or place of work to attend court.7Entitlement to allowances(1)The prosecution witness is entitled to be paid the following allowances under this section (each a relevant allowance) for attending court— (a)a travelling allowance; (b)a meal allowance under subsection (2) or (3); (c)an accommodation allowance; (d)a loss of earnings allowance.
(2)If the attendance does not require an overnight absence, the prosecution witness is entitled to a meal allowance for the following meals—(a)for breakfast for the day of the attendance, if the attendance causes the witness to leave the witness’s residence or place of work before 6a.m.;(b)for lunch for the day of the attendance, if the attendance causes the witness to—(i)leave the witness’s residence or place of work before 1.30p.m.; or(ii)return to the witness’s residence or place of work after 1.30p.m.;
(c)for dinner for the day of the attendance, if the attendance causes the witness to return to the witness’s residence or place of work after 6.30p.m.
(3)If the attendance requires 1 or more overnight absences, the prosecution witness is entitled to a meal allowance for the following meals—(a)for breakfast—(i)for the day of the first overnight absence, if the attendance causes the witness to leave the witness’s residence or place of work before 6a.m.; and(ii)for each day following an overnight absence;
(b)for lunch—(i)for the day of the first overnight absence, if the attendance causes the witness to leave the witness’s residence or place of work before 1.30p.m.; and(ii)for each day following an overnight absence, other than the last overnight absence; and(iii)for the day following the last overnight absence, if the attendance causes the witness to return to the witness’s residence or place of work after 1.30p.m.;
(c)for dinner—(i)for each day of an overnight absence; and(ii)for the day following the last overnight absence, if the attendance causes the witness to return to the witness’s residence or place of work after 6.30p.m.
(4)For subsections (2) and (3), the attendance of the prosecution witness requires an overnight absence if the witness is necessarily absent from the witness’s residence overnight to attend court.(5)The amount of a relevant allowance to which the prosecution witness is entitled under this section is stated in schedule 2.(6)This section is subject to section 8.8Restriction on entitlement to allowances(1)If the prosecution witness is entitled, under an alternative scheme, to be paid an allowance (of any amount) corresponding to a relevant allowance for attending court, the witness is not entitled to be paid the relevant allowance.(2)For subsection (1), an allowance under an alternative scheme corresponds to a relevant allowance if it is payable towards meeting the same, or a similar, type of expense or loss as the relevant allowance.(3)In this section—alternative scheme, in relation to a prosecution witness, means any of the following—(a)a directive made under the Public Sector Act 2022;(b)the engagement of the prosecution witness as a general practitioner government medical officer;(c)the engagement of the prosecution witness by the Commonwealth as an employee, as mentioned in the Public Service Act 1999 (Cwlth), section 6;(d)an arrangement between the Commonwealth and the State providing for the payment of an allowance to the prosecution witness;(e)if the prosecution witness is an expert witness—an arrangement between the prosecution witness and the prosecution for the witness to be paid to give opinion evidence as an expert witness.
expert witness means a witness who is qualified to give opinion evidence as an expert witness in relation to an issue arising in a proceeding.s 8 amd 2023 SL No. 60 s 17 sch 19Reimbursement of other expenses(1)This section applies if—(a)the prosecution witness actually and reasonably incurs an expense in attending court; and(b)the expense is not otherwise provided for under this part.
(2)The relevant accountable officer may reimburse the prosecution witness for the expense.(3)In this section—relevant accountable officer, in relation to a prosecution witness, means— (a)if the prosecution witness is a witness in a proceeding in which the director of public prosecutions is concerned—the accountable officer under the Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1984, section 32; or(b)otherwise—the accountable officer, under the Financial Accountability Act 2009, of the department in which the Police Service Administration Act 1990 is administered.
Part 4Transitional provisions10Definition for partIn this part—expired regulation means the expired Criminal Practice (Fees) Regulation 2010.11Allowance payable to particular prosecution witnesses attending court before commencement(1)This section applies if, immediately before the commencement, a prosecution witness—(a)was entitled to be paid a relevant allowance under the expired regulation, section 5; but(b)the relevant allowance had not been paid.
(2)Part 3 of this regulation applies in relation to the prosecution witness for the attendance.12References to expired regulationA reference in a document to the expired regulation may, if the context permits, be taken to be a reference to this regulation.Schedule 1Feessection 4(1)Fee units
1Inspecting a document or thing under rule 29(8A)(a)19.50
2Inspecting an exhibit, other than a document, under rule 56(2)19.50
3Searching for, or inspecting, a document on a court file under rule 57(3)19.50
4Obtaining a certified copy of a document under rule 57(3) or (5)71.65
5Preparing and copying an appeal record book—
(a)first copy—each page2.95
(b)additional copy—each page0.65
(c)binding appeal record book—each book11.35
6Preparing and copying a subsequent appeal record book—
(a)first copy—each page2.95
(b)additional copy—each page0.65
(c)binding subsequent appeal record book—each book11.35
7Copying all or part of a document, other than an appeal record book or subsequent appeal record book—
(a)first copy—each page2.95
(b)maximum fee for first copy76.75
(c)additional copy—each page0.65
(d)maximum fee for additional copy30.60
8Filing an application under rule 56A(1)—
(a)for the Supreme Court—
(i)if at least 1 applicant is a corporation2,023.00
(ii)otherwise1,008.00
(b)for the District Court—
(i)if at least 1 applicant is a corporation1,816.00
(ii)otherwise911.00
(c)for a Magistrates Court114.40
9Copying an exhibit under an order made under rule 56A(3)—
(a)first copy—each page2.95
(b)maximum fee for first copy76.75
(c)additional copy—each page0.65
(d)maximum fee for additional copy30.60
10Opening, or keeping open, the Supreme Court Registry or the District Court Registry between 4.30p.m. and 8.30a.m. or on a Saturday, Sunday or court holiday for the purpose of making an application, or copying an exhibit, under rule 56A (rule 56A(5))559.60
11Opening, or keeping open, a Magistrates Court registry between 8a.m. and 8.30a.m. or between 4.30p.m. and 6p.m. on a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or court holiday for the purpose of making an application, or copying an exhibit, under rule 56A (rule 56A(5))188.60
sch 1 sub 2022 SL No. 79 s 56amd 2024 SL No. 179 s 4Schedule 2Amounts of prosecution witness allowancessection 7(5)$
Travelling allowance
1For travelling—
(a)by the most economical form of public transport (other than air travel or taxi or a similar form of transport)—the amount paid for the fare
(b)by air, if the prosecution witness arranges with the prosecution to travel by air—the amount paid for an economy class airfare
(c)by taxi, or a similar form of transport, if the prosecution witness arranges with the prosecution to travel by taxi or the similar form of transport—the amount paid for the fare
(d)by private vehicle, if the prosecution witness can not conveniently travel by public transport—$0.40 for each km the vehicle travels
Meal allowance
2If the prosecution witness is 12 years or more—
(a)for breakfast18.20
(b)for lunch18.20
(c)for dinner34.60
3If the prosecution witness is under 12 years—half the amount that would be payable for a witness under item 2(a), (b) or (c)
Accommodation allowance
4For accommodation, for each night—
(a)if the accommodation is provided as part of a commercial transaction, the greater of—
(i)the amount paid; or
(ii)the maximum allowance163.80
(b)otherwise34.55
Loss of earnings allowance
5For a non-professional witness, for each day—
(a)for a period of absence of 4 hours or less63.75
(b)for a period of absence of more than 4 hours133.70
6For a professional witness, for each day—
(a)for a period of absence of 3 hours or less142.60
(b)for a period of absence of more than 3 hours, the total of the following—
(i)for the first 3 hours of the period of absence142.60
(ii)for each hour, or part of an hour, the period of absence is more than 3 hours to a maximum of 5 hours 35.20
sch 2 sub 2022 SL No. 79 s 56; 2023 SL No. 60 s 6; 2024 SL No. 62 s 6; 2025 SL No. 44 s 6Schedule 3Dictionarysection 3accommodation allowance see section 6(3).appeal record book see the Criminal Practice Rules 1999, rule 97(1)(a).sch 3 def appeal record book ins 2024 SL No. 179 s 5conveniently travel, in relation to a prosecution witness, means travel— (a)to attend court within a reasonable period before the attendance of the witness is required; and(b)to return to the witness’s residence or place of work within a reasonable period after the attendance.
loss of earnings allowance see section 6(4).meal allowance see section 6(2).non-professional witness means a witness who is to give evidence of a non-professional nature.period of absence, for a prosecution witness, means the period—(a)starting when the witness leaves the witness’s residence or place of work to attend court; and(b)ending when the witness returns to the witness’s residence or place of work after attending court.
place of work, for a prosecution witness, means the witness’s place of employment or practice.prisoner has the meaning given by the Corrective Services Act 2006, schedule 4, definition prisoner, paragraph 1(a) and (b).professional witness means a witness who is to give evidence of a professional nature.prosecution witness means a person who attends court to give evidence for the prosecution in a criminal proceeding.public transport means a form of passenger transport that is available for use by the public on payment of a fare.relevant allowance see section 7(1).subsequent appeal record book see the Criminal Practice Rules 1999, rule 97A(1)(a).sch 3 def subsequent appeal record book ins 2024 SL No. 179 s 5travelling allowance see section 6(1).