Canberra · Areas we serve
Criminal defence lawyer for Queanbeyan and the border.
Queanbeyan is just over the border in New South Wales, so a charge laid there is a New South Wales matter, not an ACT one. That distinction changes the court, the offences and the procedure. Aaron Kernaghan appears on both sides of the border.
- JurisdictionNew South WalesNot the ACT
- Lower courtQueanbeyan Local CourtSummary matters
- Serious mattersNSW District / SupremeOn circuit
- Direct line0421 717 019Confidential
Why the border changes everything.
Queanbeyan is in New South Wales, a short drive from Civic but in a different legal system. A charge laid in Queanbeyan is a New South Wales matter. It is heard in the Queanbeyan Local Court, and serious matters go to the New South Wales District or Supreme Court, not the ACT courts. The offences sit in New South Wales law, with different section numbers and penalties from the ACT, and New South Wales procedure applies, including its own bail and committal rules and, for many mid-range matters, a District Court that the ACT does not have.
People in the Canberra region are often charged on the New South Wales side without realising the system has changed. Getting the jurisdiction right at the start matters, because the strategy, the court and the law are all different.
Both sides of the border.
This practice appears in both the ACT and New South Wales, so a Queanbeyan matter and a Canberra matter can be run by the same lawyer, which is a real advantage for people who live in one and were charged in the other. The pages below cover the New South Wales charges and procedure that apply to a Queanbeyan matter, alongside the ACT pages for anything heard across the border.
What to do if you are charged.
The first steps hold on either side of the border. Say nothing to police about the substance until you have advice. Get the bail position right at the first appearance. And get the brief read early. The extra step for a border matter is to confirm the jurisdiction at the outset, because it decides the court and the law that apply.
Frequently asked.
Is a Queanbeyan charge an ACT matter?
No. Queanbeyan is in New South Wales, so a charge laid there is a New South Wales matter. It is heard in the Queanbeyan Local Court, with serious matters going to the New South Wales District or Supreme Court, under New South Wales law and procedure.
Can one lawyer handle both my Canberra and Queanbeyan matters?
Yes. This practice appears in both the ACT and New South Wales, so matters on either side of the border can be run together by the same lawyer.
Why does it matter which side of the border I was charged on?
Because the court, the offence and the procedure are all different. The ACT and New South Wales have different Acts, section numbers, penalties, bail rules and committal processes, and New South Wales has a District Court that the ACT does not. Getting the jurisdiction right at the start shapes the whole matter.
Charged in Queanbeyan or across the border?
A confidential first conference. The brief is read. The realistic options are set out. Speak to Aaron Kernaghan directly before you decide anything.
Request a confidential consult 0421 717 019