Past Presidents

The Hon Justice Sarah C Derrington AM

Justice Sarah Derrington was President of the Australian Law Reform Commission from 9 January 2018 to 9 January 2023.

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Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM

Professor Croucher was first appointed to the Commission as a full-time Commissioner in February 2007. She was appointed President of the ALRC in December 2009. In 2015 Professor Croucher was reappointed as President for a further three years, to 13 December 2017. Professor Croucher obtained a BA (Hons) in History and an LLB from the …

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Emeritus Professor David Weisbrot AM

Emeritus Professor David Weisbrot was President of the Australian Law Reform Commission from June 1999 to November 2009. Completed inquiries during his term include reviews of the federal civil justice system (Managing Justice, 2000); the Marine Insurance Act 1909 (2001); The Judicial Power of the Commonwealth (2001); the use of civil and administrative penalties in …

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Alan Rose AO

Mr Alan Rose AO was appointed as President of the ALRC on 23 May 1994 for five years. Previously, he was Secretary to the Attorney-General’s Department (1989-1994) and Secretary to the Department of Community Services (1986-1987), and held several senior positions in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Alan Rose was also a member …

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The Hon Elizabeth Evatt AC

The Hon Elizabeth Evatt AC was Chairman of the ALRC from January 1988 to November 1993. Prior to her appointment, she was the first Chief Judge of the Family Court and the first woman to win the Sydney University Medal in Law. In 1973, Justice Evatt was Deputy President of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration …

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Hon Xavier Connor AO QC

The Hon Xavier Conner, AO was President of the Commission from 6 May 1985 to 11 December 1987. Prior to his appointment he was a Judge of the Supreme Court of the ACT. He was Chairman of the Victorian Bar Council from 1967 to 1969 after a lengthy term as Chairman of the Law Reform …

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Hon Justice Murray Wilcox AO QC

The Hon Justice Murray Wilcox AO QC was Acting Chairman of the ALRC from September 1984 to 1985. He was also appointed Judge of the Federal Court of Australia in May 1994 after a distinguished career at the New South Wales Bar. Justice Wilcox was a full time member of the ALRC in 1976 and …

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Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG

Michael Kirby was, until 2 February 2009, one of the seven Justices of Australia’s highest constitutional and appellate court, the High Court of Australia. He served there from his appointment on 6 February 1996. At the end of that service he was Australia’s longest serving judicial officer having been: A deputy president of the Australian …

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