Lay members of High Court appointed

Three new lay members of the High Court have been appointed under the Commerce Act, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Lay members assist the Court in cases involving appeals from decisions of the Commerce Commission and in other matters under the Commerce Act, and must have specialist knowledge or experience in industry, commerce, economics, law, or accountancy.

The new lay members are

Robin Davey, a Member of the Australian Competition Tribunal since 1998. Prior to this Mr Davey was the State of Victoria’s first Regulator-General, responsible for the regulation of Victoria’s electricity and water industries, port services and grain handling. He was Chairman of the Australian Telecommunications Authority from 1989 to 1994, and previously also an associate member of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, and its predecessor the Trade Practices Commission.

John Marsden, a Member of the Australian Competition Tribunal since 2003. He is a public policy economist specialising in business planning and policy in water and other utilities and natural resource management since 1991. Between 1997 and 2004, Dr Marsden chaired the Melbourne Economic Panel associated with the Reserve Bank.

Rodney Shogren, a Member of the Australian Competition Tribunal since 2003. He is also a part-time member of the Australian Communications and Media Authority and was Commissioner with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission from 1997 to 2002. From 1990 to 1997 Mr Shogren held senior positions in the Commonwealth Treasury.

The lay members of the High Court are appointed for terms of five years