Ceremonial Sitting of the Federal Court of Australia to farewell The Honourable Justice Steven Rares
Speech delivered by Mr Luke Murphy, President of the Law Council of Australia, Federal Court of Australia, Sydney, 14 November 2023.
"May it please the Court. I respectfully acknowledge that we are meeting on the traditional land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation and I pay my respects to their Elders both past and present, and Elders from other communities who are here this morning.
I also acknowledge the Honourable Debra Mortimer, Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia; Mr Matthew Blunn, the Australian Government Solicitor; President of the Australian Bar Association, Peter Dunning KC; President of the NSW Bar Association, Dr Ruth Higgins SC; President of the Law Society of NSW, Cassandra Banks; all judicial officers, dignitaries, family, friends, and, most of all: Your Honour. I am honoured to appear on behalf of the national legal profession to congratulate your Honour on an exemplary career and to thank you for your commitment to the law and the service of the public.
A Judicial appointment is without question one of the truest examples of public service – it is a genuine service being work done for the good of the public, the wider community. Your Honour’s 18 years of Judicial service is as we have heard already this morning a real example of this."
Read the full speech below.
Last Updated on 14/11/2023