PM Tony Abbott makes first appointment to High Court of Australia

Canberra, Dec 4: Prime Minister Tony Abbott's government on Thursday appointed former Victorian Supreme Court judge Geoffrey Nettle as the next Justice of the High Court of Australia.

Attorney General George Brandis announced the decision Thursday morning, congratulating Nettle on a "well-earned" appointment, Xinhua reported.

"Justice Nettle is regarded, by bench and bar alike, as one of Australia's finest jurors," Brandis said in a statement.

"His judgements are marked by analytical clarity and deep legal scholarship. He will be an outstanding addition to the High Court."

Justice Nettle has had a 37-year law career, beginning as a solicitor and specialising in commercial law, equity, taxation, constitutional law and administrative law.

He was called to bar in 1982 and was one of the leading Queen's Counsel (QC) at the Victorian bar.

He has since served as a member of the Court of Appeal at the Victorian Supreme Court over the last decade.

"I can tell you that in consulting widely in relation to this appointment, Justice Nettle's name came up time and time again as a particularly eminent candidate for appointment to the High Court," Brandis added.

Justice Nettle will replace Susan Crennan within the High Court ahead of her departure in February 2015.

Justice Crennan had announced her retirement last month.

IANS