Statement of preparation
I, Sia Lagos, as the accountable authority of the Federal Court of Australia Listed Entity, present the Federal Court of Australia Listed Entity Corporate Plan 2026–27, which covers the period of 2026–27 to 2029–30 as required under paragraph 35(1)(b) of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (Cth).
Sia Lagos
Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar
Federal Court of Australia Listed Entity
14 August 2026
Overview of the Listed Entity
The ‘Federal Court of Australia Listed Entity’ (Listed Entity) refers to a group of persons who support the work of three separate courts and one tribunal.
This group of persons includes:
- the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar (CEO) of the Federal Court of Australia (FCA), and certain officers of that Court and staff of its Registries1
- 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 Registries2
- certain officers of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (FCFCOA (Division 2)) and the staff of its Registries3
- the National Native Title Registrar, and the staff of its national offices4.
The judicial officers of each Court, the President of the National Native Title Tribunal, the National Native Title Registrar as well as the four NNTT Members, are not part of the Listed Entity.
The Listed Entity was established under the Courts Administration Legislation Amendment Act 2016 from 1 July 2016, as a single administrative body with a single appropriation.
This appropriation has four discrete outcomes. The first three outcomes relate to the FCA (including the NNTT), FCFCOA (Division 1) and FCFCOA (Division 2) respectively. The fourth outcome relates to the shared corporate services arrangement (Program 4.1), as well as the separate shared registry services arrangement (Program 4.2).
The Listed Entity programs are summarised below:
| Outcome | Program |
|---|---|
Outcome 1 Apply and uphold the rule of law for litigants in the Federal Court of Australia and parties in the National Native Title Tribunal through the resolution of matters according to law and through the effective management of the administrative affairs of the Court and Tribunal | Program 1.1 – Federal Court of Australia The exercise of the jurisdiction of the Federal Court of Australia and supporting the operations of the National Native Title Tribunal |
Outcome 2 Apply and uphold the rule of law for litigants in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) through the just, safe, efficient and timely resolution of family law matters, particularly more complex family law matters including appeals, according to law, through the encouragement of appropriate dispute resolution processes through the effective management of the administrative affairs of the Court | Program 2.1 – Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) The exercise of the jurisdiction of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) |
Outcome 3 Apply and uphold the rule of law for litigants in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) through the just, safe, efficient and timely resolution of family law and general federal law matters according to law, through the encouragement of appropriate dispute resolution processes through the effective management of the administrative affairs of the Court | Program 3.1 – Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) The exercise of the jurisdiction of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) |
Outcome 4 Improved administration and support of the resolution of matters according to law for litigants in the Federal Court of Australia, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, and parties in the National Native Title Tribunal through efficient and effective provision of shared corporate and registry services | Program 4.1 – Commonwealth Courts Corporate Services Provide efficient and effective corporate services for the Commonwealth Courts and tribunals Program 4.2 – Commonwealth Courts Registry Services Provide efficient and effective registry services for the Commonwealth Courts and tribunals |
Since 2016, the CEO and Principal Registrar of the FCA has had the function of providing the corporate services of the FCA, FCFCOA (Division 1) and FCFCOA (Division 2). This shared corporate service arrangement exists pursuant to statute and, for budget purposes, is amalgamated into the Commonwealth Courts Corporate Services program under Outcome 4.1. This program is delivered by the organisational team known internally as Corporate Services.
Since 2019, there has been a shared registry service for the FCA, FCFCOA (Division 1) and FCFCOA (Division 2) which is known as Court and Tribunal Services (CTS). The shared registry service exists through an agreement between the heads of jurisdiction and, for budget purposes, is amalgamated into the Commonwealth Courts Registry Services program under Outcome 4.2. This program is delivered by the organisational team known internally as CTS.
Purposes
The purpose of the Listed Entity is to support the operations of the FCA, the FCFCOA (Division 1), the FCFCOA (Division 2) (together, FCFCOA), and the NNTT (collectively, the Courts and Tribunal).
The purposes of the FCA, the FCFCOA (Division 1), the FCFCOA (Division 2), the NNTT, and their key activities for 2026–30 are outlined in their respective performance reports related to their specific outcomes.
Key activities
In 2026–27, the Listed Entity will support the Courts and Tribunal to deliver timely, fair and accessible justice by strengthening the core enablers that underpin court and tribunal operations.
Across Corporate Services, the focus will continue to be on a valued and capable workforce, fit-for- purpose and secure facilities, integrated and secure systems and data, and strong governance and financial sustainability – enabling efficient, effective and resilient services across all jurisdictions.
The work of CTS will continue to centre on a commitment to excellence in client services, judicial support and courthouse operations – ensuring responsive and user centred service delivery, supported by modern and sustainable operating models.
The key activities of Corporate Services and CTS are detailed against Outcomes 4.1 and 4.2 in the performance section of this plan.
Recent budget measures identify dedicated funding priorities for each of the Courts.
The budget measures for the FCA include:
- designing processes in cooperation with, and led by First Nations parties, in particular the mediation and case management of matters
- digitising Native Title paper files to preserve historically and culturally significant Native Title records
- managing increased migration workload through –
- ensuring migration proceedings, (FCA’s largest subject matter areas, both at the first instance and in the appellate jurisdiction) are managed efficiently and sensitively, with appropriate cultural and language support for litigants. Delivery of these key activities will support the efficient use of scarce judicial time
- resourcing the Australian Competition Tribunal (ACT) to support an increased caseload anticipated by the Treasury Laws Amendment (Mergers and Acquisitions Reform) Act 2024 (Cth) by –
- supporting the judiciary of the ACT (all of whom are FCA Judges) and its supporting people and systems to perform the functions of the ACT
- supporting caseload arising from proposed key reforms to the Visa Protection program that are likely to result in an increase in appeals from the FCFCOA (Division 2)
- supporting caseload arising from proposed changes to firearms licence eligibility which is expected to result in an increase in judicial review applications from firearms background checks and intelligence assessments.
The 2026–27 funding for the FCFCOA (Division 1) and the FCFCOA (Division 2) continues to support the FCFCOA to ensure that family law cases are resolved in an efficient, timely and cost-effective manner, using appropriate dispute resolution processes, while appropriately responding to family violence and other risks.
Specific budget measures included in the Portfolio Budget Statements (PBS) relating to the Courts' family law jurisdiction include:
- continuing of the Lighthouse Program for 2 years to 30 June 2028. The program operates across 15 primary family law registries to identify risk issues early, such as family violence, supporting vulnerable parties, and shaping the allocation of resources and urgency given to such cases
- continuing culturally responsive support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children engaging with the family court system for a further 2 years to 30 June 2028
- continuing implementation and expansion of the National Strategic Framework for Information Sharing between the Family Law and Family Violence and Child Protection Systems.
In 2026–27, the FCFCOA (Division 2) received funding for its migration jurisdiction, relating to the broader strengthening of the Visa Protection System reforms, specifically for the Court’s new migration case management pathway, for an in-person verification pilot, and digital enhancements. From 1 July 2026, the Court for the first time has management of all its migration and general federal law Registrar and support staff resources. This management is key to the Court continuing to enhance its services in both the migration and general federal law jurisdictions.
The Listed Entity will also support each of the key activities further detailed by the Courts and Tribunal against their respective outcomes in the performance section of this plan.
[1] Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 18N(1), (7).
[2] Federal Circuit and Family Law Act of Australia Act 2021 (Cth) s 103(1), (6).
[3] Federal Circuit and Family Law Act of Australia Act 2021 (Cth) ss 259, 265.
[4] Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) s 130(1); Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 18ZI.
