The Family Court of Australia and Federal Circuit Court of Australia (the Courts) welcome the Government's announcement of the following appointments to the Courts in Tasmania.
- Judge Terry McGuire, elevated from the Federal Circuit Court of Australia to the Family Court of Australia, in the Hobart registry effective 22 May 2021,
- Barrister Sandra Taglieri SC, appointed to the Federal Circuit Court of Australia in the Hobart and Launceston registries effective 18 May 2021, and
- Solicitor Marcus Turnbull SC, appointed to the Federal Circuit Court of Australia in the Hobart and Launceston registries effective 24 May 2021.
The Courts welcome these much-needed appointments.
The Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia and Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, the Hon Will Alstergren said that the Courts have been working incredibly hard to secure new judicial appointments and funding.
"I am absolutely delighted to welcome such highly qualified and experienced judges to our Courts who are Tasmanian locals. They take on an important role in administering justice and dealing with critical family law and other disputes. Judge Terry McGuire has been an extremely busy and highly accomplished judge of the Federal Circuit Court for 12 years. Sandra Taglieri SC is a very experienced Barrister and the immediate past President of the Tasmanian Bar. Barrister Marcus Turnbull SC is a partner at Ogilvie Jennings and is a very experienced solicitor and advocate. Both are senior counsel, are highly regarded, and are leaders in the profession.
"The appointments come at an exciting time of change for the Courts, as the new amalgamated Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia commences on 1 September 2021," the Chief Justice added.
This announcement follows the allocation of $100 million of additional resources to the Courts as announced in the federal 2021-22 Budget. Those resources, together with other recent funding, allows for an increase of judges in the FCC from 68 to 76, and an increase of judges in the FCoA from 33 to 35 - a national increase of 10%.
In addition to the judicial appointments, the Courts have been funded for the employment nationally of (equivalent to) 112 family law positions, including senior registrars and other registrars, registrar support, family consultants plus support staff, Indigenous Liaison Officers, and legal associates.
Justice McGuire's appointment to the Family Court, replaces Justice Benjamin who, after almost 16 years of service to the Court in Tasmania, will officially retire on 21 May 2021. Justice Benjamin then commences his new role as Commissioner to assist the Inquiry into Tasmanian Government's Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings.
Chief Justice Alstergren acknowledges the enormous contribution Justice Benjamin has made to the Family Court and to the Tasmanian community, and on behalf of the Court, wishes him well in his retirement from the bench and in his role as Commissioner."
