I am pleased to announce a number of appointments to the Australian Competition Tribunal. All of the appointments are for 5 years terms.
The Honourable Justice Peter Hely has been reappointed as a Deputy President of the Tribunal, for another term of 5 years commencing from 16December2004, having already served one 5 year appointment to the Tribunal. Justice Hely has also been a judge of the Federal Court since 1998.
There are two appointments of additional members to the Tribunal, Dr Bill Beerworth and Professor Clifford Walsh, who will enhance the level of business and economic expertise on the Tribunal. These new appointments are to assist with the Tribunal’s workload as a result of the significant increase in the amount of matters referred to the Tribunal.
Dr Beerworth, of New South Wales, has been appointed until 15 December 2009. He is a solicitor and has been Managing Director of Beerworth and Partners Ltd since1989. He also holds a directorship with Australand Holdings Ltd; and is Chairman of the Advisory Board of Stern Stewart Australia, Colonial State Diversified Private Equity Fund, and of Contango Funds Management Ltd.
Professor Walsh, of South Australia, has also been appointed until 15 December 2009. He is a professional economist and in 2001 was awarded the status of Professor Emeritus. He divides his time between his Professorial Research Fellowship in the School of Economics and advising businesses or public sector agencies in South Australia and nationally. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Australian Society of Business Economists and the Australian Government’s Foreign Affairs Council; and a Trustee of the South Australian Business Vision 2010initiative.
BACKGROUND
The Tribunal was created in 1966 as the Trade Practices Tribunal. It was renamed the Australian Competition Tribunal in 1995. The Tribunal’s core function is to review a range of decisions under the Trade Practices Act 1974.
The Tribunal consists of presidential members—who must be federal Judges—and other members who must be qualified by virtue of their ‘knowledge of, or experience in, industry, commerce, economics, law or public administration’. Members serve on a part-time basis, as required, for a term of up to 7 years. Following these appointments, the Tribunal will consist of five presidential members and ten other members.