Introduction

The ‘Federal Court of Australia Listed Entity’ (the Listed Entity) refers to a group of persons who hold non-judicial positions in three separate courts and one tribunal1. These people are:

  • the CEO and Principal Registrar of the Federal Court of Australia, and certain officers of that Court and staff of its Registries2
  • the CEO and Principal Registrar of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) (FCFCOA (Division 1)), certain officers of that Court and the staff of its Registries3
  • certain officers of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (FCFCOA (Division 2)) and the staff of its Registries4, and
  • the Native Title Registrar, the Deputy Registrars of the National Native Title Tribunal (Native Title Tribunal), certain staff assisting the Native Title Tribunal and certain consultants5.

The judicial officers of each Court, and the President of the Native Title Tribunal, are not part of the Listed Entity.

The accountable authority of the Listed Entity is the CEO and Principal Registrar of Federal Court of Australia6. Section 35 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (Cth) requires the accountable authority to prepare a corporate plan for the Listed Entity, with that plan to include matters prescribed by rule 16E of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule 2014 (Cth).

This corporate plan sits within a broader planning framework, modelled on the Commonwealth Performance Framework. It includes also publishing:

  • Portfolio Budget Statements (in May 2024). These documents outline the Listed Entity’s proposed allocation of funds to achieve our stated outcomes. They describe the planned key activities to be undertaken in respect of each of the five budget programs, and describe the measures used to assess performance,
  • a corporate plan (to be published in August 2024). This document is a non-financial strategic planning document, and
  • an Annual Performance Statement (to be published in October 2025). This document is produced at the end of the reporting cycle and provides an assessment of how the Listed Entity performed against key activities and performance measures. It includes results against planned performance in both the Portfolio Budget Statements and the Corporate Plan. The Annual Performance Statement is included in the Listed Entity’s annual report.

This corporate plan principally addresses how the group of people comprising the Listed Entity support the work of the Courts and the Native Title Tribunal through the provision of corporate and registry services. The plan outlines how officers and staff will undertake key activities to support the Courts and the Native Title Tribunal, and how the Listed Entity’s performance will be measured.

This plan will be reviewed each year, allowing us to continue to refine and adapt our efforts and ensure we achieve our objectives.

Footnotes:

1 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 18ZB(a), (b), (d).

2 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 18N(1), (7).

3 Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021 (Cth) s 103(1), (6).

4 Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021 (Cth) ss 259, 265.

5 Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) s 130(1); Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 18ZI.

6 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 18ZB(c).