- New appointments and reappointments announced for State Administrative Tribunal (SAT)
- Appointees bring extensive experience in courts, tribunals, dispute resolution and public service
- SAT determines a broad range of disputes from guardianship to town planning
Attorney General Hon Dr Tony Buti has announced the appointment of Matthew Benter as a Senior Member and Richard Yates as an Ordinary Member of the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT).
Mr Benter has served as a full-time Ordinary Member of SAT since August 2023 and has extensive experience in commercial litigation, dispute resolution and mediation.
He held senior roles with the Federal Court of Australia, the private sector and the Australian Securities Commission.
Mr Yates joins SAT from the Workers Compensation Arbitration Service where he has served as Acting Registrar and Arbitrator.
He brings significant experience in tribunal decision-making, litigation and public service developed over more than two decades in legal practice and statutory decision making, both here and in South Australia.
The Attorney General has also approved the reappointment of John O’Sullivan as a Senior Member and Nova Oldfield and Rosetta Petrucci as Ordinary Members of SAT.
Mr O’Sullivan has served as a Senior Member since 2021 following a distinguished judicial career as a Magistrate of the Magistrates Court of Western Australia.
Prior to his appointment to the bench, he held senior legal roles with the State Solicitor’s Office, bringing extensive experience in public law, litigation and tribunal proceedings.
Ms Oldfield and Ms Petrucci have each made valuable contributions across a range of SAT jurisdictions and bring extensive experience in conducting hearings, mediations and delivering tribunal decisions.
SAT determines a broad range of disputes, including commercial and civil matters, guardianship and administration matters, vocational regulation, and development matters, such as town planning.
The appointments are for five-year terms.
As stated by Attorney General Dr Tony Buti:
“The State Administrative Tribunal performs an important role in delivering accessible, fair and timely resolution of disputes and reviews that affect Western Australians.
“I congratulate Matthew Benter and Richard Yates on their appointments and welcome the experience and expertise they will bring to the Tribunal.
“I also congratulate John O’Sullivan, Nova Oldfield and Rosetta Petrucci on their reappointments and thank them for their continued service to the WA community.
“Together, these appointments and reappointments will help ensure SAT continues to deliver high-quality outcomes while maintaining the efficient operation of Western Australia’s tribunal system.”
