Land Court President Peta Stilgoe officially “relinquished her training wheels” as Acting President on 31 May – the same date as the Court welcomed Member Nicholas Loos.
Both appointments were celebrated and acknowledged at a ceremony in front of family, friends, former solicitor and bar colleagues, and members of the judiciary on Friday at the Magistrates Court Building, Brisbane.
President Stilgoe said the Land Court did not often have the opportunity to celebrate the appointment of a new member.
“The last time was in 2020 on the last working day before Queensland went into its first COVID lockdown,” she said. “I’m not saying that the two events are related but I fervently hope that history won’t repeat itself this year.”
President Stilgoe went on to list the Member Loos’ qualities that “make him an ideal Member of the Court”, saying he was “no stranger to the Land Court having appeared in numerous hearings and countless court-managed expert evidence meetings”.
“He has demonstrated qualities that this Court values highly – intelligence, courtesy, thoughtfulness, the ability to look at a problem practically and above all, a sense of humour.
“He is also a modest man, a quality which is less common in judicial officers. For those of you who will be appearing before Member Loos, do not mistake his modesty for meekness.”
President Stilgoe told the audience that the Court had undergone significant reform over the last eight years, becoming “a modern, streamlined court with an excellent reputation”.
President Stilgoe
“Member Loos will be an integral part of maintaining and enhancing the Court’s reputation into the future,” she said.
“He is the new face of the Court, bringing new skills and new points of view.”
And Member Loos demonstrated his modesty saying: “First and foremost I’d like to extend my warmest congratulations to President Stilgoe on her appointment to the new role.
“It’s an exciting new beginning for the Court and I am very pleased to be here today and to bask in the reflective glow of the crowd that has gathered to congratulate the President.
“I am grateful for the faith shown in me by this appointment and I will serve the people of Queensland to the best of my ability.”
He thanked all the registry staff and speakers including Queensland Law Society (QLS) Deputy President Genevieve Dee who also addressed the court, saying: “I profoundly enjoyed being a solicitor and it was an essential foundation for me”.
“What has been said about me has been far too generous, but what skills and enthusiasm I actually truthfully do have, I look forward to bringing to this Court,” he said.
“The Court benefits from a deep well of experience in the President and Members Isdale and McNamara. We’ve each had our own paths to the Land Court, and as has been observed mine has been solely thorough private practice. I’m hoping that enables me to bring a different perspective to the work of the Court.”
Member Loos said it was an “exciting court to be part of” with substantial reforms undertaken, new and different members, innovations in practice and procedure, especially in expert evidence.
“The Court has a record of producing judgments extremely quickly, which is sort of a frightening standard for me to have to live up to.”
In Genevieve’s address to the court, she said: “President Stilgoe, it is particularly momentous for the solicitors’ branch of the profession when one of our own is elevated as the President of the Land Court. As the Deputy President of the Law Society, I am very proud that a solicitor and Honorary Member of the Law Society has been recognised in this way.
“Our members have reflected in addition to your great intellect, is that you are able to relate to the public and make those who appear before you feel like they have been heard, irrespective of the decision.
“This is high praise for any judicial officer and we know the people of Queensland will continue to benefit from your expertise and care in your new role.
“Member Loos, the members of the Law Society are delighted to welcome you to the Land Court. Having practised across a wide range of practice areas, the variety of jurisdictions of the Land Court will no doubt provide an excellent intellectual challenge.
“Our members have commented that your work ethic and your calm demeanour made you their go to barrister in planning and Land Court matters.
“It has also been remarked that you have not forgotten what it is like to be a solicitor as the interface with the client. You are responsive and understanding of client needs. Your solicitors appreciated this understanding, as it led to excellent service to their clients by both branches of the legal profession.”
President Stilgoe, who was acting in the role for more than 12 months, acknowledged the three former Land Court Presidents, and their special qualities she was hoped to acquire, aspire to and continue their reforms.
She thanked Genevieve and the Bar Association President Damien O’Brien KC for their speeches, saying she had some concerns.
“It always concerns me that the speeches from the profession are going to uncover some anecdote that is unsavoury. I’m grateful that your investigations either didn’t uncover any or were so unsavoury that you decided not to reveal them.”
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