Tribune’s note

The Attorney-General announced three judicial appointments to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, filling positions across both divisions of the court [TA-260722-attorn-c389ef828146]. Judge Steven Middleton joins the Brisbane Registry of Division 1, Judge Sandra Taglieri takes up the Hobart Registry of Division 1, and Ms Tracy Flintoff is appointed to the Brisbane Registry of Division 2 [TA-260722-attorn-c389ef828146].

The appointments were drawn from an open call for expressions of interest and assessed by an advisory panel — a process the Attorney-General described as upholding the high standards Australians expect of the federal judiciary. The Hobart appointment is notable given the comparative scarcity of federal judicial resourcing in Tasmania. The portfolio's consistent use of publicly advertised, merit-assessed selection rounds signals a deliberate approach to appointments rather than discretionary individual selection.

Primary records (1)

The official records this note draws on — the raw primary documents themselves, as published.

MediaAppointments to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Divisions 1 and 2)Michelle RowlandWednesday 22 July 2026