Transcripts and recordings
Queensland State Courts and Tribunals are courts of record. Proceedings are usually recorded, and a written transcript of the proceedings may be produced.
Transcripts and audio are ordered and delivered through the QTranscripts portal or via a manual ordering process using a form. Charges are payable for certain transcripts.
QTranscripts
QTranscripts is the new online platform for requesting, tracking and receiving audio or transcripts of court proceedings. QTranscripts has a Support Library you may visit for our QTranscripts FAQ page.
For more information download a copy of the QTranscripts flyer .
New users
When you visit QTranscripts for the first time, it will ask you to login with your Digital ID account where you will need to prove your ‘digital identity’.
Step. 1 Go to qtranscripts.justice.qld.gov.au
Step. 2 Select Public Login.
Step. 3 Login with your Digital ID
Step. 4 If you do not have a Digital ID account, you will be prompted to create one.
Step. 5 Follow the prompts in QTranscripts to request your product.
Once you have your Digital ID account you will be redirected to QTranscripts.
If you go to QTranscripts without registering correctly, you will see blank pages.
Find out about the Digital ID requirements on the Digital ID FAQ page.
Manual Forms to Request for Audio and Transcripts
If you cannot create a Digital ID or access online services to request a transcript or audio, you will need to complete one of the Request for Transcript forms, listed below. If you are unable to access this form online, you can request a copy of the form by calling 1800 842 122, available Monday to Friday 8:30am – 4:00pm (excluding Queensland public holidays) or by visiting a Courthouse.
- Request for Transcript
- Request for Transcript – Cost sharing
- Request For Transcript & Financial Hardship Fee Waiver Application Form
- Request For Transcript – Victim of a Personal Offence
Fees and charges
Transcripts have different arrangements for payment. Depending on the type of matter, your relationship to the matter, or your eligibility for any fee waiver or exemption you may be able to access a transcript or audio for free or reduced cost. This is be done through QTranscripts or a Manual Form, where you will be asked questions to determine what fees apply.
If a transcript does not exist, and must be typed:
These are purchased from Transcript Service Providers via QTranscripts. You have the choice of two providers. There are fee calculations at these links:
If a transcript exists, charges are payable as per the following table, as per the Recording of Evidence Regulation 2018:
| Item | Fee ($) |
Copies in print or electronic form of a record of a legal proceeding before the Industrial Relations Commission | |
First copy—per page | 5.05 per page |
Additional copy issued to the same person—per page | 1.10 per page |
Copies in print or electronic form of a record of another legal proceeding | |
First copy: | |
The first eight pages | 103.20 |
Each extra page | 12.75 per page |
Additional copy issued to the same person—per page | 1.70 per page |
Audio recording in electronic form or cassette tape—per hour | 42.35 per hour |
Fee waiver
Classes of fee waiver:
- Financial Hardship
- Victim of a Personal Offence
- Industrial Magistrate Court (certain matters)
- Coroners Court Queensland
Division 3 of the Recording of Evidence Regulation 2018 provides for provision of copies of a record or transcript to particular persons at no or reduced cost.
Section 7 of the Regulation relates specifically to fee waiver requests due to financial hardship. The Department of Justice and Attorney-General Financial hardship fee waiver policy provides further information.
Where a legal proceeding before a Queensland Coroner or Industrial Magistrate relates to the death of a person, a family member of the deceased is entitled to one free copy of an existing transcript of the proceeding (or if a transcript does not exist an audio recording), regardless of when the proceeding concluded. You can apply for a free copy of transcript or audio through QTranscripts by selecting Victim of personal offence or a family member of deceased person or by submitting a Request for Transcript - Victim of a Personal Offence .
Cost sharing a transcript order
Under s4A of the Recording of Evidence Regulation 2018, two or more parties to a legal proceeding can arrange to make a joint request for a transcript and share the total cost of the order.
When submitting a request via QTranscripts, you will have the option to select cost–sharing. For more information on making an order through QTranscripts, see the support library article: Sharing transcripts costs – information for joint requests .
Each party must have a registered QTranscripts account and will be notified whether the request and the cost sharing application meets eligibility requirements.
For more information on making a joint request, please see the Transcript Cost-Sharing Policy and information sheet: Making a joint request for a transcript .
Child protection matters
Requests for copies of records or documents of proceedings relating to child protection court proceedings can only be released where legislation allows release to a person or entity, or where a court order directs release of the transcript
Read more on the Requesting copies of records in child protection proceedings page.
Closed Court matters
Requests for copies of records or documents of proceedings in a closed court—including the Childrens Court and Domestic and Family Violence matters—may require ministerial or chief executive approval under the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 and the Justices Act 1886.
Frequently asked questions
To access QTranscripts services online you will be asked to log in with your Digital ID. To register for a Digital ID account, you will need to provide certain identification documents to meet identity proofing requirements.
A person uses a Digital ID to make online QTranscripts requests.
Follow these steps to access QTranscripts:
- Go to qtranscripts.justice.qld.gov.au
- Click on the Log In icon.
- On selecting Log In to QTranscripts, you be given the option to login using a Digital ID.
- If you do not have a Digital ID, you will be prompted to create one.
- Once you enter your details and log in to your Digital ID you will be redirected back to QTranscripts as logged in.
Find out about the Digital ID requirements on the Digital ID FAQ page.
Place your order (for an external or internal transcript request) via QTranscripts. Instructions on how to order can be found in the QTranscripts Support Library.
When placing your order through the QTranscripts portal, you will be able to choose from a range of turnaround timeframes including 3, 5, 10, or standard 20 days and also urgent or ‘other’ depending on your delivery and cost considerations.
For general information on pricing and turnaround times, search for the article ‘Pricing and Turnaround Times’ in the Support Library in QTranscripts.
For pricing information available from the Transcription Service Providers, please refer to the Epiq and VIQ websites.
In QTranscripts you can track the progress of your order, query your request, and view any communication from the Department. When your audio or transcript request is finalised, a secure link to download the product will be sent to you. This safeguards audio or transcript security.
The transcript will be available as a PDF version, and you will have 30 days to download your audio or transcript before the link expires.
Note: If you require the transcript after the 30 days, you can access the closed order and send a request via MyActivities to the Recording and Transcription Services team to re-open the order.
If your request was via a manual offline form, your completed order will be delivered by your preferred delivery choice indicated on your request form.
Please follow up through MyActivities in the QTranscripts portal and check the progress of your order or phone 1800 842 122 if you are having difficulties with QTranscripts.
No, you cannot share transcripts via email. The recording and transcription services model requires all users of the portal to authenticate themselves (100 points of identification) for enhanced security measures and relies on transcripts to be accessed via secure links and downloaded from within the portal to the authorised user.
If you are having difficulties accessing QTranscripts, select the ‘Account Help’ icon on the home page for more information.
If you cannot access the QTranscripts portal (due to limited or no access to technology, you are in prison, or do not have the ability to set up a QGov or MyID account) you will need to complete the manual Request for Transcript form. These forms can be lodged at a Courthouse or mailed to:
Recording and Transcription Services
Department of Justice
PO Box 15167
City East Queensland 4002
Download a Request for Transcript form online, or if you cannot access online contact 1800 842 122, available Monday to Friday 8:30am – 4:00pm (excluding Queensland public holidays).
Alternatively, you can visit a Queensland Magistrates Courthouse to request a copy of the form.
You will need to log into your QTranscripts account, then select the ‘Feedback’ option located on the navigation bar at the top of the QTranscripts home page and a feedback form will be available. Select the option from the list to lodge a complaint, compliment, feedback or suggestion. Please provide as much information as possible in order to assist us in responding to your comments/feedback.