The Family Court of Australia is a superior Australian federal court of record which deals with family law matters, such as divorce applications, parenting disputes, and the division of property when a couple separate. Together with the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, it covers family law matters in all states and territories of Australia except for Western Australia, which has a separate Family Court. Its core function is to determine cases with the most complex law, facts and parties, to cover specialised areas in family law, and to provide national coverage as the national appellate court for family law matters.
The Territory of Papua comprised the southeastern quarter of the island of New Guinea from 1883 to 1975. In 1883, the Government of Queensland annexed this territory for the British Empire. The United Kingdom Government refused to ratify the annexation but in 1884 a Protectorate was proclaimed over the territory, then called "British New Guinea". There is a certain ambiguity about the exact date on which the entire territory was annexed by the British. The Papua Act 1905 recites that this happened "on or about" 4 September 1888. On 18 March 1902, the Territory was placed under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia. Resolutions of acceptance were passed by the Commonwealth Parliament, who accepted the territory under the name of Papua.
The judiciary of Australia comprises judges who sit in federal courts and courts of the States and Territories of Australia. The High Court of Australia sits at the apex of the Australian court hierarchy as the ultimate court of appeal on matters of both federal and State law.
The Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory is the highest court of the Australian Capital Territory. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the territory in civil matters and hears the most serious criminal matters.
The Norfolk Island Court of Petty Sessions is created by the Court of Petty Sessions Act 1960, is the equivalent of most Australian mainland Magistrates' Courts or Local Courts.
Government in the Commonwealth of Australia is exercised on three levels: federal, states and territories, and local government.
The Coroner's Court of the Australian Capital Territory is a court which has exclusive jurisdiction over the remains of a person and the power to make findings in respect of the cause of death of a person or fire in Australian Capital Territory.
A magistrates' court is a lower court where, in several jurisdictions, all criminal proceedings start. Also some civil matters may be dealt with here, such as family proceedings.
The Canberra Liberals, officially the Liberal Party of Australia , is the division of the Liberal Party of Australia in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The party has been in opposition in the ACT Legislative Assembly for much of its existence, but held power with the support of minor parties and independents between 1989 and 1991 and again between 1995 and 2001.
Lorraine Anne Walker is the Chief Magistrate of the Australian Capital Territory and an Acting Judge of Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory.
Karen Fryar is a former Magistrate of the Australian Capital Territory. She was sworn in as a Magistrate on 6 September 1993. She retired on 8 March 2019.
Louise Taylor is a Magistrate of the Australian Capital Territory. She was sworn in as a Magistrate on 10 September 2018.
Brigadier Bernadette Carmel BossCSC is a Magistrate of the Australian Capital Territory. She was appointed as a magistrate on 11 June 2012.
Margaret Anne Hunter is a Special Magistrate of the Australian Capital Territory. She was appointed as a special magistrate and coroner on 21 May 2014.
John Dominic Burns is a Judge of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory and a former Chief Magistrate of the Australian Capital Territory.
Colonel Peter Morrison is a Magistrate of the Australian Capital Territory. He was appointed as a magistrate on 14 February 2012.
