Attorney General Appoints new Judiciary Members to Federal Courts and Tribunals

The Commonwealth Attorney General has appointed six new judges to Australian Federal Courts as well as nine other appointments to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. 

Federal Court of Australia

The Federal Court of Australia sees the appointments of Mr. Robert Bromwich SC and Ms. Natalie Charlesworth to fill the vacancies left by the retirement of the Hon Justice Richard Edmonds and the Hon Justice John Mansfield AM. Mr. Bromwich will commence his duties in the Sydney registry on the 29 February 2016 while Ms. Charlesworth will commence her appointment in the Adelaide registry on the 1 March 2016. 

Family Court of Australia

Ms. Catherine Carew QC and Mr. Richard O’Brien will fill the vacancies left by the retirements of the Hon Justice Graham Bell and the Hon Justice Jane Crisford in the Family Court of Australia. Ms. Carew will begin her appointment in the Brisbane registry on 7 March 2016 while Mr. O’Brien will commence his in Perth on 8 March 2016. 

Federal Circuit Court of Australia

The Federal Circuit Court of Australia will see the appointments of Ms. Elizabeth Boyle who will commence in the Sydney registry on 29 February 2016, and Ms. Jillian Williams who will commence her appointment in the Melbourne registry on 29 February 2016. Ms. Boyle and Ms. Williams will replace the retiring Judges Justice Simpson and Justice O’Dwyer. 

Administrative Appeals Tribunal

Ms. Jan Redfern PSM has been appointed as a Deputy President and will serve as the Division head of the Migration and Refugee Division. Ms. Redfern will occupy this position for a period of seven years from her start date on 21 March 2016. 

The Attorney General also appointed the Hon Dennis Cowdroy OAM as a Deputy President for a period of five years commencing on 1 March 2016, and the reappointment of Dr. Irene O’Connell as a full-time senior member for a period of five years commencing on 26 February 2016. Mr. Donald Davies also received an appointment as a part-time senior member for a period of five years commencing on 1 March 2016. 

Further to this, Prof. David Ben-Tovin, Mr. Andrew Cameron, Dr. Bernard Hughson, and Dr. Peter Wilkins MBE, were appointed as part-time members for a period of five years. 

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Appointments to the Federal Courts - Media Release

Appointments to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal? - Media Release