The Hon Geoffrey Ross KENNETT

Judge, Federal Court of Australia: 19.12.2022
Location: Sydney

Other Commissions/Appointments:
Administrative Review Tribunal - Deputy President

Justice Kennett was appointed to the Federal Court on 19 December 2022.

He was appointed a Deputy President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (now the Administrative Review Tribunal) on 25 May 2023.

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 on an overlapping basis, generally for a period of 12 months each. The next available positions will commence in July 2027 and January 2028.

A notice will be posted on this webpage in 2026 before applications open for these positions.

General information about the associate position can be found on the Judges' Associates page of the employment section of the Federal Court website.