I am pleased to announce that increased resources have been provided to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) (Division 2) Newcastle Registry, with the appointment of two new judges:
- The appointment of Ms Vivien Carty as a judge of the FCFCOA (Division 2) Newcastle Registry to replace Justice Janet Terry.
- The appointment of Ms Julie Kearney as an additional judge of the FCFCOA (Division 2) Newcastle Registry.
As of 15 October 2021, this means that a total of five judges will be based in the FCFCOA Newcastle Registry. This is the highest number of judges that have ever been appointed to the Newcastle Registry.
Ms Carty and Ms Kearney have extensive experience in family law and are welcome additions to the Newcastle Registry. On behalf of the Australian Government, I thank them for their willingness to serve the people of Australia as Judges of the FCFCOA (Division 2).
In addition to these appointments, the following positive changes have been implemented to provide further resources at the Newcastle Registry:
- an additional courtroom and chambers were built as part of the registry upgrade to accommodate the new judge
- a new case management system, including a triage system as well as early dispute resolution and early trial date offerings, have been implemented
- the Court will continue to ensure that electronic hearings are available to increase access to justice for regional areas and to ensure the safety of vulnerable litigants, and
- callovers of older cases will occur where appropriate to reduce the number of pending cases.
On behalf of the Australian Government, I also acknowledge the work of the FCFCOA to engage a large number of highly experienced additional registrars, family consultants, indigenous liaison officers and support staff.
