Tony Fitzgerald
Encyclopedia
Gerald Edward Fitzgerald, AC
, QC
(born 26 November 1941) is a former Australia
n judge, who presided over the Fitzgerald Inquiry
.
and university at the University of Queensland
, where he graduated in 1964 with an LLB and was admitted to the bar
that same year. In 1975 he became a QC
. Fitzgerald was a judge in the Federal Court of Australia
from 25 November 1981 to 30 June 1984.
Fitzgerald presided over the Fitzgerald Inquiry
into corruption in the Queensland
government. He was officially known as the chair of the Commission of Inquiry into Official Corruption in Queensland from 1987 to 1989 (seehttp://www.cmc.qld.gov.au/data/portal/00000005/content/81350001131406907822.pdf).
He also chaired the Commission of Inquiry into the Conservation, Management and Use of Fraser Island and the Great Sandy Region
from 1990 to 1991 (see http://www.leadr.com.au/fitzgerald.html).
He was appointed as a judge to the Supreme Court of Queensland
, which is the highest ranking court
in the State
of Queensland
.
He served as the first President of the Court of Appeals Division from 16 December 1991 until his retirement from this court on 30 June 1998 (seehttp://www.courts.qld.gov.au/about/former/default.htm#Qld%20Court%20of%20Appeal).
He was a judge on the Court of Appeals Division of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
from 1998 to 16 March 2001 (seehttp://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/supreme_court/ll_sc.nsf/pages/SCO_annualrev_2001_judges).
In July 2009, following the Gordon Nuttall
scandal and public criticisms of contemporary governance in Queensland, Fitzgerald revealed his relocation to New South Wales was due in large part to the 1998 election of the Beattie Labor government
.
After retirement Fitzgerald worked primarily as a mediator and arbitrator (see http://www.leadr.com.au/fitzgerald.html, http://www.disputeresolution.net.au/Fitzgerald_cv.htm).
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(born 26 November 1941) is a former Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n judge, who presided over the Fitzgerald Inquiry
Fitzgerald Inquiry
The Fitzgerald Inquiry into Queensland Police corruption was a judicial inquiry presided over by Tony Fitzgerald QC. The inquiry resulted in the deposition of a premier, two by-elections, the jailing of three former ministers and a police commissioner who was jailed and lost his...
.
Life and career
Gerald Edward "Tony" Fitzgerald attended high school at St Patrick's College, ShorncliffeSt Patrick's College, Shorncliffe
St. Patrick's College is a private, Roman Catholic, day school for boys, situated on the waterfront in Shorncliffe, north of Brisbane, in Queensland, Australia....
and university at the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
, where he graduated in 1964 with an LLB and was admitted to the bar
Bar council
A bar council , in a Commonwealth country and in the Republic of Ireland, the Bar Council of Ireland is a professional body that regulates the profession of barristers together with the King's Inns. Solicitors are generally regulated by the Law society....
that same year. In 1975 he became a QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
. Fitzgerald was a judge in the Federal Court of Australia
Federal Court of Australia
The Federal Court of Australia is an Australian superior court of record which has jurisdiction to deal with most civil disputes governed by federal law , along with some summary criminal matters. Cases are heard at first instance by single Judges...
from 25 November 1981 to 30 June 1984.
Fitzgerald presided over the Fitzgerald Inquiry
Fitzgerald Inquiry
The Fitzgerald Inquiry into Queensland Police corruption was a judicial inquiry presided over by Tony Fitzgerald QC. The inquiry resulted in the deposition of a premier, two by-elections, the jailing of three former ministers and a police commissioner who was jailed and lost his...
into corruption in the Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
government. He was officially known as the chair of the Commission of Inquiry into Official Corruption in Queensland from 1987 to 1989 (seehttp://www.cmc.qld.gov.au/data/portal/00000005/content/81350001131406907822.pdf).
He also chaired the Commission of Inquiry into the Conservation, Management and Use of Fraser Island and the Great Sandy Region
Great Sandy Strait
The Great Sandy Strait is an 70 km Australian sand passage estuary separating mainland Queensland, from World Heritage listed Fraser Island.-Description:...
from 1990 to 1991 (see http://www.leadr.com.au/fitzgerald.html).
He was appointed as a judge to the Supreme Court of Queensland
Supreme Court of Queensland
The Supreme Court of Queensland, which is based at the Law Courts Complex, is the superior court for the Australian State of Queensland and sits around the middle of the Australian court hierarchy...
, which is the highest ranking court
Australian court hierarchy
There are two streams within the hierarchy of Australian courts, the federal stream and the state and territory stream. While the federal courts and the court systems in each state and territory are separate, the High Court of Australia remains the ultimate court of appeal for the Australian...
in the State
States and territories of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories. The Australian mainland is made up of five states and three territories, with the sixth state of Tasmania being made up of islands. In addition there are six island territories, known as external territories, and a...
of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
.
He served as the first President of the Court of Appeals Division from 16 December 1991 until his retirement from this court on 30 June 1998 (seehttp://www.courts.qld.gov.au/about/former/default.htm#Qld%20Court%20of%20Appeal).
He was a judge on the Court of Appeals Division of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
Supreme Court of New South Wales
The Supreme Court of New South Wales is the highest state court of the Australian State of New South Wales...
from 1998 to 16 March 2001 (seehttp://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/supreme_court/ll_sc.nsf/pages/SCO_annualrev_2001_judges).
In July 2009, following the Gordon Nuttall
Gordon Nuttall
Gordon Richard Nuttall is a former Australian politician who represented Sandgate in the Queensland Parliament from 1992 to 2006....
scandal and public criticisms of contemporary governance in Queensland, Fitzgerald revealed his relocation to New South Wales was due in large part to the 1998 election of the Beattie Labor government
Peter Beattie
Peter Douglas Beattie , Australian politician, was the 36th Premier of the Australian state of Queensland for nine years and leader of the Australian Labor Party in that state for eleven and a half years...
.
After retirement Fitzgerald worked primarily as a mediator and arbitrator (see http://www.leadr.com.au/fitzgerald.html, http://www.disputeresolution.net.au/Fitzgerald_cv.htm).
See also
- Judiciary of AustraliaJudiciary of AustraliaThe judiciary in Australia is modelled substantially on the system of courts which existed in England.The large number of courts and tribunals in Australia have different procedural powers and characteristics, different jurisdictional limits, different remedial powers and different cost...
- List of Judges of the Supreme Court of Queensland
- Royal CommissionRoyal CommissionIn Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...