Funding boosts State Administrative Tribunal membership

  • Three appointments expand SAT’s full-time member group to 26
  • The new full-time members are all experienced legal professionals

Attorney General John Quigley is pleased to announce three new full-time members have been appointed to the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) as it meets the demands of a rising workload.

The new SAT members all have a strong legal background. They are Registrar Matthew Benter, Solicitor Nicola Lithgo and Barrister and Solicitor Edward Cade.

Their appointments for five-year terms take the total number of full-time SAT members to 26, following the creation of a further member position this month.

One of the SAT positions became vacant after two members went part-time and the other two positions were made possible by additional funding from the Department of Justice and Treasury.

The full-time member group has been expanded because of the substantial increase in the tribunal’s caseload relating to building disputes, guardianship and administration matters.

A National Judicial Registrar of the Federal Court since late 2018, Mr Benter has extensive expertise in managing complex commercial litigation and mediations.

Ms Lithgo has been working as a part-time Member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal’s Migration and Refugee Division and of the WA Mental Health Tribunal.

Mr Cade has served as an Assistant State Solicitor at the WA State Solicitor’s Office for the past four years.

As stated by Attorney General John Quigley:

“The appointment of three new full-time members continues to strengthen the State Administrative Tribunal’s member base and enhance its operations.

“Government funding for two additional full-time positions will help SAT deal with the increased caseload, especially building disputes within its Commercial and Civil stream and guardianship and administration matters within its Human Rights stream.

“All appointees have significant experience in their fields and will contribute to the tribunal reviewing and hearing matters in a timely manner.

“Congratulations to the new members.”

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