All his life, Anastasis (Tass) Liveris has been passionate about giving back to his community.
On February 5, 2024, he was announced the judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and now more than 12 months on, carries a strong sense of pride for serving the Northern Territory community.
In an exclusive interview with The Greek Herald, the Greek Australian judge reflected on how he felt to achieve this major career milestone and discussed his proudest accomplishments over the years.
“It was an extremely humbling honour,” Justice Liveris told The Greek Herald.
“I was quite overwhelmed by the privilege of being selected to do this really important work.
“It means a lot for a small jurisdiction like The Northern Territory that covers a vast land mass and has a 30% Aboriginal population to have a resident judge here who comes from the community.”
Growing up in the Northern Territory
As a third generation Territorian, who is very connected to his community, Justice Liveris described his family history as one interconnected with his state.
‘Born and bred’ in Darwin, he revealed that his family’s migration journey from Kastellorizo, Greece, to Australia, began when his great grandfather arrived in Darwin in 1915, following the First World War.
“He passed away shortly after he arrived, leaving my great grandmother here as a young widow with three small children, one of whom was my grandfather,” Justice Liveris said.
“They lived in a part of town that was called ‘Greek town’ here, where all the hallmarks of the Greek identity could be found, which include the faith, the hope and the charity for the community coming together.”
Following family footsteps
The Greek Australian judge added that the love for community runs in his family.
“My grandfather worked in construction, and was also a justice of the peace, so community service was something that was very important,” he said.
“My father was born here… and my mother came from Perth, but she’s also from Kastellorizo originally as well, and her family was deeply involved in community service and helping people.”
Justice Liveris said that after living in Darwin all his life, he loves to be reminded by his family’s journey and sacrifices.
“I still see buildings around town that my grandfather worked on, and the building that my father designed, and so it makes me very proud to see my own family’s legacy here in the Northern Territory live on,” he added.
“Ultimately, it’s the Kastelorizian values that really define who I am. It’s an awareness of treating people fairly, of recognising that everyone has their own vulnerabilities and has moments in their lives where they’re not at their best, and it’s just bringing a sense of empathy and understanding to everything we do in our daily interactions.”
Liveris’ educational history and career
As the only judge in the Northern Territory of the Federal Circuit and Family Court, Justice Liveris said he’s gained experiences in the legal profession across various states in the country.
In 2001, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees from Northern Territory University, (now- Charles Darwin University), and then the following year, was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory.
He also practiced in Perth for several years, where he was admitted to the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 2004, and then landed a role in the High Court of Australia in 2007.
Overcoming challenges in the legal field
Justice Liveris explained how occasionally the nature of the work can be despairing, and stressed the importance of taking the time to look after oneself.
“The analogy I used sometimes when I was in representative roles, is like the airplane safety drill, because I think most lawyers who are attracted to practice, do so because they want to contribute to the public good, and they are putting other people before themselves” he said.
“And what the airline drill says to you is, ‘if you’re travelling with an infant or a dependent and the oxygen masks come down, you must put the mask on yourself before you attend to the dependent’, because you’re no good to others if you’re not well yourself. “
Justice Liveris said it ultimately comes down to “a matter of balance”.
“I like to run in the early mornings in Darwin before the sun rises, and that’s part of my wellness,” he added.
“We need to understand that we’re all human – we all feel things, we all see things, we all have triggers, we all react, and I think understanding that within myself has assisted me in understanding that of litigants who come before the court who are in a very stressful situation.
“Providing a sense of empathy, emotional intelligence, and understanding of that dynamic can be very important in making sure that the best outcomes are reached, and the process is as constructive for people as it can possibly be.”
The greatest joys of the role
Justice Liveris expressed what he loves most about his latest role.
“In some respects, I still feel very new, but I’ve loved connecting with my colleagues all across Australia,” the Greek judge said.
“Even though we are a small registry here, we feel very supported by the court nationally.”
One of his favourite experiences so far has been working on circuits, where he’s visited Perth, Adelaide, and Alice Springs to work with other judges and registries, and see different cases with different lawyers.
“That’s been a wonderful privilege, to serve a different part of the community as well,” he said.
“A real highlight for me too has been just to meet and work with the very dedicated people – the lawyers, the family report writers, the court child experts, the indigenous Family Liaison Officers, the Chamber staff, and the self-represented parties in navigating the legal process.”
