Over the past two years, new ordinary member of the State Administrative Tribunal Maryellen Hipworth played a significant role in advising the state government’s Department of Health and the Western Australian police force on high-level legal issues surrounding the COVID pandemic and enforcement of public health orders.

Ms Hipworth graduated and started work as a nurse prior to studying law at Murdoch University. After being admitted to the Supreme Court of Western Australia as a barrister and solicitor in 2006, Ms Hipworth went on to work at the State Solicitor’s Office, where she would often focus on medical and health legal matters.

Commenting on her appointment to the State Administrative Tribunal, Attorney-General John Quigley congratulated Ms Hipworth and welcomed her experience.

“During the pandemic, she has provided complex, sensitive and high-legal legal advice,” Mr Quigley said. “She also played an important part in helping the government defend the High Court challenge to its COVID-19 border controls.”

Ms Hipworth, who has also worked for Slater & Gordon and the Department of Health, has been appointed an ordinary member for a five-year term.

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