The Albanese government has appointed six new judges to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2), while a general counsel has been named as the new deputy Commonwealth ombudsman.
Recently, the federal government named Kara Best, Celia Conlan, Kathryn Heuer, Sharney Jenkinson, Amy McGowan and Dr James Renwick AM CSC SC as Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) judges, all of whom commenced in their roles yesterday (17 September).
Best, a Queensland-based barrister who has been a senior judicial registrar in the FCFCOA since 2021, has been appointed to the Brisbane registry.
Conlan, who has been a senior judicial registrar in the FCFCOA since 2020, is admitted as a solicitor in NSW and as a solicitor and barrister in the ACT, and Jenkinson is a Victoria-based barrister who has been a senior judicial registrar in the FCFCOA since 2021. Both will sit in the Melbourne registry.
Heuer will sit in the Adelaide registry, having served as a senior judicial registrar in the FCFCOA since 2020, and is admitted in NSW and the ACT.
McGowan and Renwick are both admitted in NSW, with the latter having taken silk in 2011, and the former having been a senior judicial registrar in the FCFCOA since 2022. They will serve in the Parramatta and Sydney registries, respectively.
Speaking about the appointments, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said: “I congratulate Mrs Kara Best, Ms Celia Conlan, Ms Kathryn Heuer, Ms Sharney Jenkinson, Ms Amy McGowan and Dr James Renwick AM CSC SC on their appointments and thank them for their willingness to serve the Australian community.
“These appointments will facilitate access to justice for families and add to the capacity of the FCFCOA to deal with migration matters. The government has made these appointments following merit-based processes to ensure that judicial appointments meet the high standards Australians expect.”
Elsewhere, the federal government has appointed Julie O’Brien as Deputy Commonwealth Ombudsman at the Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman (OCO).
She will serve a five-year term, starting on 3 November 2025.
O’Brien currently serves as the general counsel at the Australian Human Rights Commission.
A-G Rowland said: “The Albanese government recognises the importance of an independent, impartial and robust Ombudsman in safeguarding the community. Ms O’Brien’s appointment and the significant experience she brings to the role will support the Commonwealth Ombudsman to continue its important work.
“I thank the former deputy ombudsman, Ms Penny McKay, for her service in the role. Ms McKay has provided a valuable contribution to the OCO since her appointment in 2020.”
Jerome Doraisamy is the managing editor of Lawyers Weekly and HR Leader. He is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in New South Wales, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.
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