His practice focused on industrial, employment, discrimination, administrative law
The County Court of Victoria has announced the appointment of Malcolm Harding as a judge sitting in its Common Law Division, effective 7 July 2026.
“We warmly welcome Judge Harding and congratulate him on his new role,” stated the court’s news release.
The Judicial College of Victoria congratulated him on his appointment and expressed eagerness to engage with him as he stepped into his new role.
The County Court plans to mark Harding’s appointment through a ceremony in Courtroom 3.3 of its location on 250 William Street in Melbourne. The schedule for the welcome ceremony is at 9:15 a.m. on Thursday, 10 September 2026.
“All counsel are encouraged to attend, robed,” the Victorian Bar Association said. “The ceremony will be livestreamed via Webex, with access details to be published on the Victorian Bar website closer to the date.”
The court’s and the college’s news releases provided more information regarding the new judicial appointee.
“He has been a leading industrial Silk for many years and has been much in demand in this specialist jurisdiction,” stated the County Court’s news release.
Harding’s practice has focused primarily on the areas of industrial, employment, discrimination, and administrative law.
His legal career began at Slater & Gordon. At this firm, he handled WorkCover, industrial, employment, insurance, anti-discrimination, superannuation, and disability insurance litigation matters.
Harding received an appointment as senior counsel in October 2019 and gained admission to the state bar in 2003.
During his time at the bar, he served as president and vice president of the Industrial Bar Association and as a member of the Victorian bar’s human rights and diversity and equality committees.
The County Court shared that it scheduled or held welcome ceremonies for the following recently appointed judges:
Judge Hartnett, appointed as a judge on 12 May 2026, was the court’s first female judge to have started her legal career as a deputy registrar of the Magistrates Court of Victoria.
The court noted that Hartnett’s welcome ceremony featured addresses by Albert Dinelli, the Victorian bar’s honourary treasurer, and Juliana Smith, deputy president of the Law Institute of Victoria.
The court will also hold Judge Wilson’s and Judge Hutton’s welcome ceremonies in Courtroom 3.3 of its location on 250 William Street in Melbourne.
According to the court, those who are interested in attending these welcome ceremonies, but who cannot do so in person, have the option of viewing the online livestream.
Enjoy this story? Read about the latest legal appointments on the main page!
