“[Altobelli] brings to his new position considerable experience and expertise in family law, mediation, and civil litigation,” Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said.

Before taking up his appointment, Altobelli acted as special counsel to family law practice Watts McCray Lawyers, also serving as an associate professor at the school of law at the University of Western Sydney.

Altobelli is an accredited specialist in family law, children’s law, and mediation. He was admitted by the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1981, and has practised mainly as a family lawyer and civil litigator. He will take up his appointment on 13 November 2006. Altobelli is among the five additional federal magistrates to be appointed from additional funding provided to the Federal Magistrates Court in the 2006-07 Budget.

“I congratulate [Altobelli] on his appointment to the Federal Magistrates Court and take great pleasure in wishing him every success in his new position,” Ruddock said.