The Masters

Pursuant to section 111 of the Supreme Court Act 1970 the Governor may appoint Masters of the Court. They are ordinarily assigned either to the Common Law Division or to the Equity Division although, in the interests of flexibility, they are given power to act outside the Division to which they are primarily assigned.

As at 31 December 2001 the following Masters were in office:
John Kennedy McLaughlin
Bryan Arthur Malpass
Richard Hugh Macready
Joanne Ruth Harrison.
Grahame James Berecry held appointment as an Acting Master of the Court from 28 May 2001 to 31 December 2001 and sat from time to time.

The main work of the Common Law Masters is the trial (without a jury) of personal injury and possession cases, the trial (without a jury) of other proceedings referred to the Masters by a Judge or by the Court of Appeal, appeals from the Local Court and various Tribunals and appeals from determinations of costs assessors.

The main work of the Equity Masters is the hearing of proceedings under the Family Provision Act 1982, Property (Relationships) Act 1984, Corporations Act 2001 (Commonwealth) and the trial of other proceedings referred to the Masters by a Judge or by the Court of Appeal. The Masters also deal with statutory applications under various Acts.

In addition to the foregoing trial work, the Masters deal with most interlocutory matters that cannot be dealt with by a Registrar. The Masters' principal interlocutory work consists of applications for orders for summary relief and for the extension of time to commence proceedings under various Acts. Applications for review of a Registrar's decision are also dealt with by Masters.