Federal Court of Australia
FCA
1 February 1977 – present
Superior court of record with broad federal civil jurisdiction, including corporations, competition and consumer law, intellectual property, taxation, migration, native title, admiralty, bankruptcy and industrial law, and some criminal jurisdiction. Since 2016 its administration also supports the family courts and the National Native Title Tribunal.
How it came into existence
Created by the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976, which commenced on 1 February 1977, taking over the jurisdiction and judges of the Australian Industrial Court and the Federal Court of Bankruptcy.
- Industrial jurisdiction
- Bankruptcy jurisdiction
Legislation: Federal Court of Australia Act 1976
Changes during its life
- 1 July 2016Became a single administrative entity under the Courts Administration Legislation Amendment Act 2016, supporting the Federal Court, the Family Court, the Federal Circuit Court and the National Native Title Tribunal.
- Industrial jurisdiction
Returned under the Workplace Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Act 1996.
- Corporate services and staff of the tribunal
- Court administration and corporate services
- Court administration and corporate services
- Industrial jurisdiction of the Industrial Division
- Less complex general federal law matters
- Bankruptcy
Main functions
- Federal civil jurisdiction (corporations, competition, intellectual property, tax)
- Bankruptcy jurisdiction
- Industrial and workplace relations jurisdiction
- Native title determinations
- Appeals from federal tribunals and single judges
- Administration of the federal courts (since 2016)
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Attorney-General's Department.
- Type of body
- Non-corporate Commonwealth entity
- Portfolio
- Attorney-General's
- Accountable authority
- Chief Executive Officer – Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 section 18ZB(c)
- ABN
- 49 110 847 399
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance)
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to the latest release (30 June 2026))