Ceremonial - Remarks to farewell the Honourable Justice Patrick Anthony Keane AC as a Justice of the High Court of Australia

[2022] HCATrans 146

[2022] HCATrans 146

H I G H   C O U R T   O F   A U S T R A L I A

REMARKS TO FAREWELL

THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE PATRICK ANTHONY KEANE, AC

AS A JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA

AT

CANBERRA

ON

WEDNESDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER 2022, AT 10.02 AM

KIEFEL CJ:   The handing down of these judgments is likely to be the last occasion on which we sit as a Full Court with Justice Keane before his Honour’s retirement on 16 October 2022.  Justice Keane was sworn in as a Justice of this Court on 5 March 2013.  The ceremonial sitting to mark the occasion of his swearing‑in was attended by many judges, past and present, Solicitors‑General and lawyers, such is the esteem in which his Honour is held.

Prior to his appointment to this Court, Justice Keane had a stellar career at the Bar, including as Solicitor‑General for the State of Queensland.  He served with distinction on the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Queensland and led the Federal Court of Australia as Chief Justice.  He brought all of that experience to this Court.

It was said at his swearing‑in ceremony that Justice Keane was known for his powerful intellect and his industry.  That is undoubtedly true, and this Court has benefitted from those abilities, as well as his Honour’s breadth of legal knowledge and his adherence to judicial method and to legal principle.

Justice Keane has been a true colleague.  We shall miss our discussions with him and his good humour.  The Court thanks Justice Keane for his valuable service and wishes him and his wife, Dr Shelley Keane, well for the future.

The Court will adjourn to reconstitute.

AT 10.03 AM THE MATTER WAS CONCLUDED