Attorney-general’s speech congratulates federal court for its contributions
The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) Division 2 celebrated its 25th anniversary with a ceremonial sitting involving around 76 judges sitting on the bench in Courtroom 1, Law Courts Building, Queens Square, Sydney, on 23 June 2025.
“I congratulate the Court for its contributions to the administration of justice and to the Australian community over the past quarter of a century,” said Michelle Rowland, Australia’s attorney-general, in a speech for the ceremonial sitting.
“I recognise the immense benefits that the commitment to service demonstrated by this Court has had for the Australian community, including through its circuit program to regional and rural Australia,” Rowland added.
“Judges of the Court, Registrars, Court Child Experts, Associates, Legal Case Managers, Administrative, Corporate and Registry staff, past and present, should be very proud of their achievements, and we look forward to the future with confidence,” said William Alstergren, chief judge, in a media release from the FCFCOA.
“As Attorney-General I am looking forward to working with the Chief Justice and the Court to explore further innovations to strengthen access to justice, and to ensure the Court continues to make a real impact for those in our community who rely on its services at their time of need,” Rowland said.
“The Court has faced many challenges over its relatively short history, but its success has been marked by hard-work, innovation, resilience and a steadfast commitment to accessible justice,” Alstergren said in the FCFCOA’s media release.
The media release provided information on the court’s history. The court, previously called the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia, launched 25 years ago as the first lower-level federal court since the Judiciary Act 1903’s passage.
The media release stressed that the court’s creation demonstrated a shift in direction in the country’s federal administration of justice. Since then, the court has grown significantly in terms of workload, jurisdiction, and number of judges. It has also turned into Australia’s biggest federal court.
“The growth in demand for the work of the FCFCOA (Division 2) is both a reflection of the pivotal role the Court plays in supporting Australians when they need it most, and an endorsement of its success,” Rowland said in the speech.
The court swore in Diana Bryant as the inaugural chief federal magistrate in May 2000, with nine federal magistrates appointed shortly afterward. The court accepted its first applications in June 2000 and held its first sittings in July 2000 in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, and Townsville.
Upon Bryant’s elevation to the Family Court of Australia, John Pascoe assumed the role of chief federal magistrate in July 2004. In turn, when Pascoe joined the Family Court of Australia, William Alstergren became chief judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia in October 2017.
Alstergren became chief justice of the Family Court of Australia in December 2018. Currently, the court’s bench comprises 91 judges.
“The Court has developed an impressive reputation as ‘the workhorse of the federal judiciary’,” Rowland said. “This would not be possible without the dedicated staff who have served the Court so reliably over many years, and who ensure the Court can deliver its services across Australia.”
“Whether listing a matter in Melbourne or supporting a circuit to Mount Gambier, the Court's passionate staff are often the face of the justice system,” Rowland added.
