The Victorian Government has appointed Greg Garde QC as a judge of the Supreme Court and President of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

 

Attorney-General Robert Clark said Mr Garde's extensive legal background and wide experience made him an ideal candidate both to serve on the Supreme Court and to lead a large and diverse tribunal.

 

"Mr Garde has 37 years' experience at the Bar, practising in a broad range of commercial law areas as well as planning, environmental and local government law, and being appointed as Queen's Counsel in 1989," Mr Clark said.

 

"Mr Garde has also lectured in constitutional and administrative law and served as Chairman of the Environmental, Planning and Local Government Law Section of the Commercial Bar Association.

 

"In addition, Mr Garde has more than four decades of distinguished military service. He initially enlisted in the Melbourne University Regiment in 1967 and has undertaken a wide range of responsible and demanding roles, as well as service to veterans and their families," Mr Clark said.

 

Mr Garde rose to the rank of Major General and from 2001 to 2004 served as Chief of Reserves and Head of Reserve Policy, the highest position for a reserve officer in the Australian Defence Force.

 

Mr Garde was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1995 for exceptional service to the Army Reserve, and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2005 for distinguished service to the Australian Defence Force Reserves.

 

Mr Garde's appointment to the Supreme Court takes effect immediately. His appointment as President of VCAT will take effect from Friday 1 June.

 

Mr Clark also thanked Judge John Bowman for his contribution as the acting President of VCAT during the past three months.