The Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus KC MP, today announced the appointment of the Honourable Justice Jacoba Brasch as Chair of the Family Law Council. Judge Alexandra Harland and the Honourable John Faulks (former Deputy Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia) were also reappointed to the Council, with new appointments including Senior Judicial Registrar Anne-Marie Rice.
The Attorney-General acknowledged the outgoing Chair, Deputy Chief Justice Robert McClelland AO.
The Family Law Council is an independent body that provides expert advice to the Attorney-General on complex family law issues.
Justice Jacoba Brasch
Justice Brasch is a Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1). She was admitted to the Bar in 2000 and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2014. Justice Brasch specialises in family law, particularly difficult children's matters, domestic violence, child protection and mental health issues.
Judge Alexandra Harland
Judge Harland is a Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2), appointed in 2013. Judge Harland established and chairs the Joint Courts Diversity and Inclusion Working Group in 2024. Her Honour has expertise in issues affecting same sex families, artificial reproduction, surrogacy to legal parentage and identity and children's rights generally.
Senior Judicial Registrar Anne-Marie Rice
SJR Rice is the Executive Director National Registrar Practice Operations and Senior Judicial Registrar at the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. Ms Rice is also a lecturer in mediation and conflict management at the University of Queensland. She is an accredited specialist in family law.
