Information for the Media
Media inquiries should be directed to the Communication Manager, Denise Healy ph. (03) 8600 4451.
The Federal Magistrates Court of Australia was set up in 1999 to provide a simple and accessible alternative to litigation in the established federal courts. The FMC shares concurrent jurisdiction with the Federal Court and the Family
Court. The jurisdiction of the FMC family law and child support, administrative law, bankruptcy, human rights, consumer
protection and trade practices, privacy, migration, copyright, industrial law and admiralty law.
When sitting as a court, the title Federal Magistrates Court is to be used. For all other purposes, the court is to be known as the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia.
The correct title for federal magistrates is Chief Federal Magistrate or Federal Magistrate (for example, Federal Magistrate Smith). When in court, federal magistrates are to be referred to as "Your Honour" or "Chief
Federal Magistrate/Federal Magistrate" but not "Your Worship". (See Court Etiquette for more detail)
The Chief Federal Magistrate of the FMC is John Pascoe and he is based in Sydney. Federal Magistrates are based in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney, Parramatta, Newcastle, Townsville, Launceston and Darwin. The FMC also conducts circuits in rural and regional areas.
Restrictions on reporting family law matters
Section 121 of the Family Law Act 1975 makes it an offence, except in very limited circumstances, to publish proceedings that identify persons, associated persons or witnesses involved in family law proceedings. The section also extends the prohibition to the publication of any picture.
Occasionally, the Federal Magistrates Court may make a Section 121 Publication Order under the Family Law Act. This allows the media to publish and broadcast information released by the court. Publication Orders are made in
rare circumstances where the court is seeking the public's help in locating a missing child or children. Once a Publication Order has been lifted and Section 121 of the Family Law Act reinstated, no further information on the case can be published or broadcast.
Section 97 of the Family Law Act 1975 provides that all proceedings in the court shall be heard in open unless the court decides otherwise.
Restrictions on reporting migration cases
Section 91X of the Migration Act 1958 provides that the Court cannot publish a person's name where the person has applied for a protection visa or a protection-related visa or where these types of visas have been cancelled.
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