The Attorney-General has announced the proposed abolition of the Federal Magistrates Court, with Magistrates being integrated into the Federal and Family Courts.
The majority of IP matters are heard before the Federal Court, which will consist of two tiers. The first being the existing Judges who will hear appeals and more complex matters, and the second being Magistrates, who will hear shorter less-complex matters. The involvement of Magistrates in IP matters in the new structure is unclear.