Judges' Remuneration Act 1969

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Judges’ Remuneration

No. 40 of 1969

An Act relating to the Remuneration of the Judges of Courts created by the Parliament, of the Presidential Members of the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission and of the Members of the Trade Practices Tribunal.

[Assented to 14 June 1969]

BE it enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title.

1. This Act may be cited as the Judges’ Remuneration Act 1969.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Amendment of Acts.

3. The Acts specified in the first column of the First Schedule to this Act are amended as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

Citation of Acts.

4. An Act specified in the first column of the Second Schedule to this Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited in the manner specified in the second column of that Schedule opposite to the reference to that Act in the first column.

THE SCHEDULES

——

FIRST SCHEDULE Section 3.

First Column	Second Column
Acts amended	Amendments
Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court Act 1933-1968	Section 8b—
Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court Act 1933-1968	Omit from sub-section (1.) “Seventeen thousand dollars a year”, insert “Twenty-two thousand dollars a year and an annual allowance of One thousand dollars” Insert in sub-section (1a.), after “salary”, “and annual allowance” Insert in sub-section (7.), after “salary”, “and annual allowance”
Bankruptcy Act 1966-1968..............	Section 25—
	Omit from sub-section (1.) “Seventeen thousand dollars a year and that salary”, insert “Twenty-two thousand dollars a year and an annual allowance of One thousand dollars and that salary and annual allowance” Omit sub-section (2.), insert the following sub-section:— “(2.) The salary and annual allowance of a Judge grow due from day to day, but are payable monthly.”

First Schedule—continued

First Column	Second Column
Acts amended	Amendments
Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904-1968, as amended by the Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1969 and by the Conciliation and Arbitration Act (No. 2) 1969	Section 8—
	Insert in sub-section (1.), after “salary”, “and annual allowance”
	Omit from sub-section (2.) “salary as” insert “salary and annual allowance as” Add at the end of sub-section (2.) “and an annual allowance of Five hundred dollars” Insert in sub-section (3.), after “salaries”, “and annual allowances”.
	Section 93—
	Omit from sub-section (1.) “Nineteen thousand dollars a year “, insert “Twenty-four thousand dollars a year and an annual allowance of One thousand five hundred dollars “
	Omit from sub-section (1.) “Seventeen thousand dollars a year “, insert “Twenty-two thousand dollars a year and an annual allowance of One thousand dollars” Insert in sub-section (2.), after “salaries”, “and annual allowances”
	Section 102—
	Omit from sub-section (1.) “Nineteen thousand dollars a year”, insert “Twenty-four thousand dollars a year and an annual allowance of One thousand five hundred dollars “ Omit from sub-section (1.) “Seventeen thousand dollars a year”, insert “Twenty-two thousand dollars a year and an annual allowance of One thousand dollars” Insert in sub-section (2.), after “salaries”, “and annual allowances”
	Section 103a—
	Insert in sub-section (2.), after “salary”, “and annual allowance”
Conciliation and Arbitration Act (No. 2) 1969.........	Section 1— Omit sub-section (3.)
Norfolk Island Act 1957-1966...................	Section 21a— Insert in sub-section (l.), after “salary”, “and annual allowance”
Northern Territory Supreme Court Act 1961-1968	Section 9—
	Omit from sub-section (1.) “Seventeen thousand dollars a year and that salary”, insert “Twenty-two thousand dollars a year and an annual allowance of One thousand dollars and that salary and annual allowance” Insert in sub-section (2.), after “salary”, “and annual allowance”
Trade Practices Act 1965-1968..................	Section 11—
	Omit from sub-section (2.) “at such rate as the Governor-General determines, but the rate shall not”, insert “and an annual allowance at such rates as the Governor-General determines, but neither rate shall”
	Omit from sub-section (3.) “such allowances in respect of travelling expenses”, insert “sums in respect of travelling expenses at such rate”

SECOND SCHEDULE Section 4.

First Column	Second Column
Acts amended	Citations
Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court Act 1933-1968	Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court Act 1933-1969
Bankruptcy Act 1966-1968..............	Bankruptcy Act 1966-1969
Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904-1968, as amended by the Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1969 and by the Conciliation and Arbitration Act (No. 2) 1969	Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904-1969
Norfolk Island Act 1957-1966............	Norfolk Island Act 1957-1969
Northern Territory Supreme Court Act 1961-1968	Northern Territory Supreme Court Act 1961-1969
Trade Practices Act 1965-1968...........	Trade Practices Act 1965-1969

Overview

The Judges’ Remuneration Act 1969 was enacted to address the need for a more comprehensive and contemporary approach to the remuneration of judges across various Australian courts. This Act was introduced to ensure that the remuneration of judges remains competitive and reflective of their responsibilities and the economic climate of the time. The legislation was enacted by the Queen, in right of the Commonwealth of Australia, through the Australian Parliament, reflecting the federal nature of the judiciary's remuneration system. The Act aims to establish a fair and consistent framework for the remuneration of judges, ensuring that their compensation is equitable and aligns with the roles they perform within the Australian legal system. By amending several existing Acts, the Judges’ Remuneration Act 1969 ensures that the remuneration structures are updated to reflect current economic conditions and the importance of judicial independence and integrity.

Scope and Application

The Judges’ Remuneration Act 1969 applies to the remuneration of judges appointed to various courts established by the Australian Parliament, including the Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court, the Bankruptcy Court, the Conciliation and Arbitration Commission, and the Trade Practices Tribunal. It specifies the annual salaries and allowances for these judicial officers, thereby ensuring consistent and appropriate remuneration across these federal judicial positions. The Act operates within the Commonwealth jurisdiction, and it is intended to update and standardise the financial provisions for these roles, as evidenced by the amendments to various specified Acts listed in the schedules. The Act itself does not explicitly state any exclusions or exemptions; however, its application is confined to the specific roles and courts mentioned in the amending provisions of the schedules. The Act can be further extended or modified through subordinate legislation, which may provide additional details or adjustments to the remuneration structures as required.

Key Provisions

The Judges' Remuneration Act 1969 (section 1) pertains to the remuneration of judges of various courts created by the Parliament, including the Presidential Members of the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission and the Members of the Trade Practices Tribunal. This Act came into operation on the day it received Royal Assent (section 2). It amends several specified Acts to adjust the remuneration of judges, which now includes a base salary and an annual allowance (section 3 and First Schedule). For instance, the Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court Act 1933-1968 is amended to reflect an annual salary of twenty-two thousand dollars and an allowance of one thousand dollars (First Schedule, Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court Act 1933-1968). Additionally, the Bankruptcy Act 1966-1968 is amended to specify that the salary and annual allowance of a judge grow due from day to day and are payable monthly (First Schedule, Bankruptcy Act 1966-1968). The Act imposes specific obligations on the parties it governs, including the requirement to pay the revised remuneration to judges, which now includes a base salary and an annual allowance (section 3 and First Schedule). For example, the Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904-1968, as amended, must account for the new remuneration structure in its provisions (First Schedule, Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904-1968). The Trade Practices Act 1965-1968 is also amended to include provisions for an annual allowance at rates determined by the Governor-General (First Schedule, Trade Practices Act 1965-1968). Under this Act, there are no specific offences or penalties outlined for breaches. However, the amendments and adjustments to remuneration in the specified Acts (section 3 and First Schedule) are mandatory and must be adhered to. Failure to comply with these amendments could result in legal repercussions under the respective Acts that have been amended by this Act. The maximum penalties for non-compliance would be determined by the specific provisions of the amended Acts.

Area of Law: Administrative Law; Commercial Law; Public Law
Instrument: Act
Concepts: Commencement Provisions; Definitions & Interpretation; Repeal & Amendment; Offence Provisions

Interactions

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.

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