Geoffrey Kennett
The Honourable Justice Geoffrey Kennett | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the Federal Court of Australia | |
| Assumed office 19 December 2022 | |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Alma mater | Australian National University (BA Hons; LLB Hons); University of Sydney (LLM) |
The Honourable Justice Geoffrey Kennett is an Australian judge of the Federal Court of Australia, sitting in the Sydney registry. He was appointed on 19 December 2022 after serving as a resident judge of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory in 2022. Since May 2025, he has also served as a Deputy President of the Administrative Review Tribunal.[1][2][3]
Education and early career
Kennett studied at the Australian National University (BA Hons 1985; LLB Hons 1989; MPubLaw 1993) and later completed an LLM at the University of Sydney in 2013.[4] He practised in public and administrative law, including periods with the Australian Government Solicitor and at the Sydney Bar, and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2010.[1]
Kennett chaired the Administrative Law Committee of the Law Council of Australia and served on its Constitutional Law Committee. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law.[1]
Judicial service
On 21 March 2022, Kennett was sworn in as a resident judge of the Supreme Court of the ACT.[4] He was appointed a judge of the Federal Court of Australia on 19 December 2022 (Sydney registry).[2][1] A ceremonial sitting to welcome him was held on 16 March 2023; the Court has published the transcript.[5] The Attorney-General’s Department has released (under FOI) the commission of appointment.[6]
On 25 May 2025, Kennett was appointed Deputy President of the Administrative Review Tribunal, the body replacing the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.[3]
Selected matters and coverage
Independent media have reported on matters before Kennett J, including:
- eSafety Commissioner v X Corp — in May 2024, he refused to extend an interim injunction concerning the global removal of links to violent-content footage; the Court’s online file records the orders and filings, with contemporaneous reporting.[7][8]
- Ben Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd (appeal) — in May 2025, a Full Court including Kennett J dismissed the appeal; covered widely by national media.[9][10]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "The Hon Geoffrey Ross KENNETT — Biography". Federal Court of Australia. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Judges of the Court listed by date of appointment". Federal Court of Australia. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "The Hon Justice Geoffrey Kennett". Australian Government Directory. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Justice Geoffrey Kennett — Biography" (PDF). Supreme Court of the ACT. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
- ↑ "Ceremonial sitting of the Full Court to welcome the Honourable Justice Kennett — transcript". Federal Court of Australia. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
- ↑ "FOI23/010 — Commission of appointment of Judge Geoffrey Kennett". Attorney-General’s Department. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
- ↑ "eSafety Commissioner v X Corp — Online file". Federal Court of Australia. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
- ↑ "Federal court overturns eSafety commissioner's injunction against X". 9News. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
- ↑ "Ben Roberts-Smith loses appeal bid to overturn defamation case loss". ABC News. 16 May 2025. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
- ↑ "Ben Roberts-Smith loses appeal against defamation ruling he committed war crimes in Afghanistan". The Guardian. 16 May 2025. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
External links
- Official website
- Ceremonial welcome — transcript
- Law Council media release noting his Federal Court appointment
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