The Federal Magistrates Court has changed its title to the Federal Circuit Court of Australia as of today (12 April 2013). Schedules 1 and 2 of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia Legislation Amendment Act 2012 amend the Federal Magistrates Act 1999 and other legislation to administer this name change and to also change the title of the Chief Federal Magistrate to “Chief Judge” and Federal Magistrates to “judge”.

The Federal Circuit Court will continue to operate as a separate court and exercise concurrent jurisdiction with the Federal Court of Australia and the Family Court of Australia. The Federal Circuit Court has federal judicial power in:

• Family law
• Administrative law
• Admiralty
• Bankruptcy
• Consumer law
• Human rights
• Industrial law
• Intellectual property
• Migration
• Privacy

Federal Magistrates Court Guidebook will be responding to this major change by changing its title to Federal Circuit Court Guidebook. Federal Magistrates Court Guidebook online subscribers will have access to the amendments shortly and paper subscribers will receive a new binder in early May.

Thomson Reuters is committed to continuous improvement of its products and services to ensure they meet the changing needs of our subscribers. We welcome feedback from subscribers as to how we can make Federal Magistrates Court Guidebook (soon to be Federal Circuit Court Guidebook) even more useful for users. Please contact Catherine Roberts, Commercial Manager – Legal Portfolio: catherine.roberts@thomsonreuters.com or (02) 8587 7327.