"It's only a matter of time before somebody is hurt as a result of the clear failings of that building - whether that's a judge, whether that's a federal circuit court judge, whether that's a lawyer, whether that's a litigant," he says.

"Heaven help us if that's a child."

Words that must surely make the powers that be take notice to the building's reported issues around safety, and come up with solutions.

The majority of people attending this level of court are vulnerable due to the emotive nature of the cases.

Often relationships between people presenting to the court are strained with divorce settlements, custody cases and foster care matters a high proportion of the cases dealt with in the family court.

And the fact judges and lawyers, as well as vulnerable women and children, have had to mix with litigants appearing in the St John Street court house, is clearly not a safe environment where coupled with an overcrowded waiting room and no first-floor security.

Having a judge in the same lift as litigants is clearly not safe.

Will federal Attorney-General Christian Porter take up Mr Hughes' offer to experience the dangers himself?

Or what will it take for changes such as the move to the new identified site which is considered fit for purpose?

A serious incident involving a child?

There are numerous examples of how emotion over divorces and custody of children can end up, and they can be very tragic.

It is not only a safety issue, it is a productivity issue because as one Federal Circuit Court judge reportedly said, he would sit in the family court more often if it was safer.

Let's hope a resolution can be found soon by the federal government, particularly the Attorney-General and Bass MHR Bridget Archer, because as Mr Hughes said: "plain old dumb luck" and good staff management can only keep people safe for so long.