In broad terms, a person who strikes, touches or otherwise applies force of any kind to another person, directly or indirectly, may be liable for having assaulted them. The full definition, which requires the force to be applied without consent, sits in section 245(1) of the Criminal Code. The charge you face turns on the nature of the force alleged: common assault at the lower end, assault occasioning bodily harm where the allegation is that the assault caused bodily harm, and serious assault, a separate charge again. Related charges, such as obstructing or assaulting a police officer, sit alongside these.

You will usually know the charge from what the arresting officer told you or from your Notice to Appear. Treat that label as a starting position, not a verdict. An assault is only an offence if it is unlawful, and the law recognises defences including self-defence, provocation, emergency and compulsion, with a common thread running through most of them: the force used must be reasonable in the circumstances. Our assault charges page covers the charge types and the defences in more detail.

For a Brisbane charge, court means the Brisbane Magistrates Court at 363 George Street. Queensland Courts lists its business hours as 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, and court lists generally start at 9.00am. Arrive early: the lists can hold dozens of matters, and you need time for security screening and for finding your courtroom. Dress neatly. A suit is not required, but the court notices effort.

An assault charge can end in several different places, and where yours ends depends on the facts and on the work done early. The realistic destinations look like this:

• Negotiation on the facts or the charge. Errors in a QP9 are challenged through case conferencing and written submissions to the prosecution. Amended facts are negotiated more often than most people expect, and where the facts support a lesser charge, that is a conversation to have before any plea.
• Alternative resolution. For a less serious charge such as common assault, resolution outside the Magistrates Court can sometimes be pursued.
• A plea on accurate facts. Where a plea of guilty is the right course after advice, the work shifts to presenting the matter properly at sentence, including, where realistically open, seeking an outcome that involves no conviction being recorded.
• A contested hearing. Where the facts do not support the charge, or a defence such as self defence applies, the matter can be set down for hearing and the prosecution put to proof.

Each of those destinations is reached by the same early steps: get the QP9, get advice, and make no decision until both are done. Our criminal law practice runs matters through each of these stages. If cost is a concern, ask about Legal Aid Queensland eligibility before assuming you cannot afford advice.

Sources: Criminal Code Act 1899 (Qld) (current as at 29 October 2026), ss 25, 31, 245, 267, 269, 271 and 272; Queensland Courts, Courthouse locations (checked 4 November 2026). The law and penalties change from time to time, so please get advice about your own matter before relying on this general information.