High Court Registry closure

The High Court Registry will be closed from 4:00pm AEDT on Wednesday, 24 December 2025 and will re-open at 9:00am on Friday, 2 January 2026.

Any party seeking to file a document due to be filed between 25 December 2025 and 1 January 2026 has an automatic extension of time under the High Court Rules 2004 (Rule 4.01.5) until 4:00pm on Friday, 2 January 2026 to file the document. Any documents lodged between 25 December 2025 and 1 January 2026 will be reviewed on 2 January 2026.

All inquiries for the High Court will be considered when the Registry re-opens on Friday, 2 January 2026. If a matter is of extreme urgency, you may telephone 1800 570 566, select Option 1 and leave a voicemail. In addition, provide details by email to: registry@hcourt.gov.au.

The Hon Justice Simon Steward AC

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Steward J official photo

Background

Description

Simon Harry Peter Steward was appointed to the Court in December 2020. At the time of his appointment, he was a judge of the Federal Court of Australia to which he was appointed in February 2018. He was made a Deputy President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in June 2018. He holds first class Honours and Masters degrees in Law from the University of Melbourne. 

He was admitted to practise as a solicitor in 1991 and was called to the Victorian Bar in 1999 where he practised in revenue law. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2009. He is a former President of the Tax Bar Association of the Victorian Bar and is a Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne School of Law. Justice Steward was appointed a Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia in 2025.