Federal Court judges are competition body’s new part‑time deputy presidents
The federal government has appointed four experienced Federal Court justices – Jonathan Beach, Catherine Button, Cameron Moore, and Penelope Neskovcin – as part‑time deputy presidents of the Australian Competition Tribunal for five‑year terms beginning 26 March 2026.
In a media release, Dr Andrew Leigh – Australia’s assistant minister for productivity, competition, charities, and treasury – said the appointments sought to help the key competition body:
The media release acknowledged the recent expansion of the tribunal’s role of reviewing decisions of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) under the new merger regime, which commenced operating on a voluntary basis on 1 July 2025 and turned mandatory on 1 January 2026.
Operating under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, the competition body reviews various important competition and access decisions, including:
Leigh’s media release provided more information regarding the newly appointed part‑time deputy presidents.
Appointed to the Federal Court on 30 June 2014, Justice Beach obtained admission to practise as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1984, joined the Victorian bar in 1987, and received a designation as Queen’s Counsel in 1999.
Appointed to the Federal Court on 16 January 2023, Justice Button received admission as a barrister and solicitor in Victoria in 2000, became a member of the bar in 2007, became senior counsel in 2018, and sat as a judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria from 2021–23.
Appointed to the Federal Court on 18 December 2024, Justice Moore gained admission as a legal practitioner in New South Wales in 1993, practised as a barrister beginning in 1998, and became senior counsel in 2011.
Appointed to the Federal Court on 8 February 2024, Justice Neskovcin earned admission to practise in Tasmania in 1994 and in Victoria in 1995, became a member of the bar in 2002, and became senior counsel in 2016.
