The Hon Geoffrey Ross KENNETT
Judge, Federal Court of Australia: 19.12.2022
Location: Sydney
Other Commissions/Appointments:
Administrative Appeals Tribunal - Deputy President
Justice Kennett was appointed to the Federal Court on 19 December 2022.
Justice Kennett graduated from the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in 1985, a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) in 1988 and a Master of Public Law in 1993. His Honour also studied at the University of Sydney, graduating with a Master of Law in 2013.
Justice Kennett commenced his career in the Australian Public Service. His Honour held various roles, including as counsel assisting the Solicitor-General of the Commonwealth, before he commenced practice at the NSW Bar in 1998. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2010.
At the Bar Justice Kennett specialised in administrative, constitutional, customs, native title, taxation and competition and consumer law matters. His Honour served for several years as chair of the Administrative Law Committee of the Law Council of Australia and a member of its Constitutional Law Committee.
From March to December 2022 Justice Kennett was a Resident Judge of the Supreme Court of the ACT. His Honour is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law.
Associateship applications
Justice Kennett appoints two associates, generally for a period of 12 or 18 months each.
Applications to commence as an associate with Justice Kennett in January or July of 2025 open on 15 January 2024 and close on 31 March 2024. Any interested persons should forward their application to nswreg@fedcourt.gov.au to the attention of the Chambers of Justice Kennett. Applications should include a cover letter of no more than two pages, a brief curriculum vitae, university transcript and the details of at least two referees.
General information about the associate position can be found on the Judges' Associates page of the employment section of the Federal Court website. If you have any queries about the process, please send an email to nswreg@fedcourt.gov.au marked to the attention of the Chambers of Justice Kennett.
