The Hon Alan Robertson SC on essential topics in administrative law

The Hon Alan Robertson SC served as a judge of the Federal Court from 2011 until 2020, during which time he made a significant contribution to the administrative law jurisprudence of the Court. Before his appointment to the bench, Alan Robertson’s career included many other significant encounters with administrative law – including, as a barrister at the New South Wales Bar, part-time member of the Administrative Review Council, and convenor of the Constitutional and Administrative law section of the New South Wales Bar Association. While a Judge of the Federal Court, he was also a Deputy President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. At this event, the judge discusses essential topics for administrative lawyers (from students to judges), including why we use jurisdictional error; the practical difference between merits review and judicial review; how a Court on judicial review approaches fact-finding by primary decision-makers; and some points of interest from recent cases.