Broome is the largest town in the Kimberley and the gateway to the far north of Western Australia, sitting on the Indian Ocean coast more than 2,000 kilometres north of Perth at the end of the Great Northern Highway. Built on pearling, tourism, the port and the pastoral and resources industries, it draws people from right across the region — from Derby and the Dampier Peninsula to Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek, Wyndham and Kununurra, as well as the many remote communities the courthouse serves on circuit. With a busy seasonal population, a transient workforce and long distances between towns, the legal issues that come up in Broome are wide-ranging: drink driving and traffic charges along the highway, criminal matters, family breakdowns and separations, family violence orders, and disputes that follow people moving in and out for work. Whatever has brought you here, you don't have to sort it out alone — a lawyer can help you understand exactly where you stand.
Criminal Law in Broome
Criminal charges in Broome are dealt with first at the Broome Magistrates Court on Hamersley Street, which hears summary (less serious) matters and the early stages of more serious charges. Serious indictable offences are committed up to the District Court of Western Australia, and the most serious matters of all to the Supreme Court of Western Australia. The Magistrates Court also sits on circuit to serve smaller and remote communities across the Kimberley.
Most criminal offences in Western Australia are set out in The Criminal Code (the Criminal Code Act Compilation Act 1913). Whether your matter stays in the Magistrates Court or is sent to a higher court depends on the offence and how it is charged, and that choice can have a real effect on the outcome.
You have the right to silence. If police want to question you, you do not have to answer questions beyond giving your name and address — and it is almost always wise to speak to a lawyer before you say anything. The early decisions in a criminal matter often shape everything that follows, so getting a lawyer onto it quickly can make a genuine difference.
Speak to a lawyer about a criminal law matter →
Family Law in Broome
Family law works differently in Western Australia than anywhere else in the country. WA is the only state with its own dedicated family court — the Family Court of Western Australia — which handles parenting arrangements, property settlements and divorce for people in Broome and across the Kimberley, rather than the federal court that covers the rest of Australia.
Before filing most parenting applications, separating parents are usually expected to attempt family dispute resolution (mediation) and obtain a section 60I certificate, unless an exception applies such as urgency or family violence. The court's central concern in any parenting decision is the best interests of the child.
A family violence restraining order is a separate process again, dealt with through the Magistrates Court rather than the Family Court — though the two often run alongside each other. If safety is a concern, that protection can be sought quickly. A lawyer can explain how these pieces fit together and what steps make sense in your situation.
Speak to a lawyer about a family law matter →
Divorce in Broome
Divorce itself is governed by federal law — the Family Law Act 1975 — and applies the same way across the country, including in Broome. To apply, you generally need to have been separated for at least 12 months, and it is possible to be separated while still living under the same roof.
In Western Australia, divorce applications are dealt with by the Family Court of Western Australia. The application is filed online through the Commonwealth Courts Portal, and you will usually need your marriage certificate. You won't ordinarily have to travel to a courthouse to start the process.
Divorce ends the marriage, but it does not by itself resolve property division or arrangements for children — those are dealt with separately, and there are time limits for bringing property claims after a divorce. A lawyer can prepare and lodge your application and make sure the related issues aren't left unaddressed.
Speak to a lawyer about a divorce matter →
Drink Driving in Broome
Drink driving offences in Western Australia are dealt with under the Road Traffic Act 1974, and charges arising in and around Broome are generally heard at the Broome Magistrates Court on Hamersley Street. The Kimberley's long highway distances and seasonal traffic mean these charges are common right across the region.
Penalties depend heavily on your blood alcohol reading and your history — as a rule, the higher the reading, the heavier the penalty, and repeat offences are treated far more seriously than a first offence. A drink driving conviction commonly carries a period of licence disqualification, and in many cases a fine as well.
Western Australia does allow some drivers to apply for an extraordinary licence, which can permit limited driving during a disqualification period in certain circumstances — but eligibility is restricted and it is not available in every case. A lawyer can tell you whether that option is open to you and what the realistic outcome is likely to be.
Speak to a lawyer about a drink driving matter →
Traffic Law in Broome
Traffic matters in Western Australia run under the Road Traffic Act 1974 and related legislation, covering everything from speeding and demerit points through to more serious charges like driving while disqualified, reckless driving and dangerous driving causing harm. Minor matters can often be dealt with by the demerit and infringement system, while charges that go to court in the Broome area are heard at the Broome Magistrates Court, with the most serious driving offences capable of being dealt with in a higher court.
Demerit points accumulate against your licence, and reaching the threshold can trigger a suspension. In some cases drivers may have the option of electing a good behaviour period instead of an immediate suspension, which carries its own conditions and risks.
A charge that looks routine can still put your licence — and, in remote parts of the Kimberley, your ability to get around at all — on the line. A lawyer can explain your options, including whether it's worth contesting the matter or seeking a better outcome on penalty.
Speak to a lawyer about a traffic law matter →
Broome Courts
Where your matter is heard depends on the offence and its seriousness. The courts that serve Broome are:
Broome Courthouse (Magistrates Court of Western Australia)
Hamersley Street, Broome WA 6725. The Magistrates Court hears summary criminal matters, the early stages of more serious charges, and many traffic and drink driving cases for Broome and the surrounding Kimberley, including on circuit to remote communities.
District Court of Western Australia (Broome circuit)
The District Court sits on circuit in Broome to hear serious indictable criminal matters and certain civil claims that are beyond the Magistrates Court, with the Supreme Court of Western Australia dealing with the most serious matters of all.
Family Court of Western Australia
Western Australia's dedicated family court handles parenting, property and divorce matters for Broome and the Kimberley. Much of the process is conducted online or by filing, so you generally won't need to travel to start a matter.
What to Do Right Now
1
If police want to question you, give only your name and address — you have the right to silence in Western Australia. Politely tell them you want to speak to a lawyer first.
2
Write everything down while it's fresh: what happened, dates and times, names of any witnesses, and anything police said or did.
3
Check your paperwork for your first court date at the Broome courthouse on Hamersley Street. Missing a court date can lead to a warrant or losing your licence by default.
4
Call Legal Hotline now — free, any time. Tell us what's happened and we'll connect you with a lawyer for your Broome matter, usually within the hour.
Broome Legal Questions
Which court will my Broome matter be heard in?
Most criminal, drink driving and traffic matters start at the Broome Magistrates Court on Hamersley Street. Serious charges can be committed to the District Court of Western Australia (which sits on circuit in Broome) or the Supreme Court, while family and divorce matters are dealt with by the Family Court of Western Australia.
Can I get a lawyer the same day in Broome?
Yes. Call the free hotline and we can have a lawyer working on your matter — anywhere in Australia, including in Broome's courts — usually within the hour.
I've been charged with drink driving in Broome — will I lose my licence?
A drink driving conviction in Western Australia commonly carries a period of licence disqualification, with heavier penalties for higher readings and repeat offences. WA does allow some drivers to apply for an extraordinary licence to drive on a limited basis during disqualification, but it isn't available in every case. A lawyer can tell you whether that option applies to you.
Do I have to go to a courthouse to start a divorce?
No. Divorce is filed online through the Commonwealth Courts Portal once you've been separated for at least 12 months. In Western Australia divorce is handled by the Family Court of Western Australia rather than the federal court. A lawyer can prepare and lodge it for you.
Is calling Legal Hotline really free?
Yes. The information line is free and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can call any time to understand where you stand — no cost, no obligation.