Attorney General John Quigley has strengthened the Magistrates Court of Western Australia through the appointment of four Magistrates, three of whom will preside in regional centres.
Two of the new Magistrates will fill vacant positions, while the other appointments were funded through the Justice Pipeline Project, an initiative of the McGowan Government to deliver a more efficient and effective justice system.
Natasha Owen-Conway becomes a permanent Magistrate presiding over civil matters after acting in the position since November 2021. She has also been a member of the State Administrative Tribunal since 2011.
Janie Gibbs has been Managing Lawyer with the Aboriginal Legal Service in Albany since 2017. She has extensive experience in criminal law, having also worked as a solicitor with Legal Aid throughout WA and in private practice.
Anthony Sullivan was a State Prosecutor at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions between 2006 and 2011 before taking on several leadership roles with Legal Aid WA advocating on State and Commonwealth criminal matters and supervising junior practitioners.
Kelly Thompson was a senior lawyer on criminal matters with the Aboriginal Legal Service. She has worked in private practice, with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Queensland and has been an adviser to an Independent Federal Member of Parliament.
Ms Owen-Conway will commence her appointment on July 13 and the three regional Magistrates on August 8.
As stated by Attorney General John Quigley:
“The addition of these four experienced and accomplished lawyers to the Magistrates Court will further enhance the legal services available to the community, particularly in the regions. I congratulate them on their appointments.
“I am pleased the inclusion of Ms Owen-Conway, Ms Gibbs and Ms Thompson in these appointments also align with our aim of improving the representation of women in WA judicial roles.
“I wish to thank Ms Owen-Conway, who resigns her State Administrative Tribunal position upon her new appointment, for her long and dedicated service to the Tribunal.
“I also thank retiring Magistrates Peter Malone and Stephen Sharratt for their outstanding service. They have been Magistrates for 22 years and 21 years respectively, and provided many years of invaluable service to the public.”
