Hayne, Callinan JJ - Welcome Brisbane CHH

This proceeding records the welcome extended to Justices Hayne and Callinan of the High Court of Australia by representatives of the Queensland legal profession. Mr. R.W. Gotterson QC, President of the Queensland Bar Association, and Mr. P.E.M. McCafferty, on behalf of the Queensland Law Society, addressed the Court to formally welcome the Justices to Brisbane. The addresses acknowledged the Justices' backgrounds, their appointments to the High Court, and their connections to Queensland, while also highlighting the significance of the Court sitting in various capital cities.

The central themes of the addresses and the Justices' responses revolved around the national character of the High Court, the importance of regional representation, and the ongoing evolution of legal practice in Australia. Specific points of discussion included the dual identity of Justice Hayne as a Queenslander and a product of the Victorian Bar, and Justice Callinan's distinction as the first Queensland-based High Court Justice and the first practising barrister appointed in 22 years. Both Justices expressed their gratitude for the welcome and their commitment to upholding the standards of the Court.

The legal principles implicitly discussed concerned the role of the High Court as a national institution, the value of diverse judicial backgrounds, and the interconnectedness of state and federal legal systems. The addresses underscored the public's expectation of highly qualified appointees to the Court, essential for maintaining public confidence and the rule of law. The Justices' responses affirmed the importance of the Court's national presence and its engagement with the legal professions across Australia, acknowledging the benefits of exposure to different approaches to legal problems and the increasing national character of legal practice.