Joshua Sproule

Josh has a public law practice with considerable experience in judicial and administrative review, native title, taxation and Commonwealth entitlements. He represents both government and private clients in matters in State and Federal courts and tribunals, both led and unled.

Josh was called to the Bar in 2019 after practising as a lawyer at the Australian Government Solicitor since 2016. As a solicitor, he practiced in Commonwealth entitlements, taxation, and judicial and administrative review.

Josh was an Associate to Justice Dowsett of the Federal Court of Australia. During the Barrett Adolescent Centre Commission of Inquiry, he was Associate to the Commissioner, The Hon Margaret Wilson KC.

Josh regularly advises and appears in cases involving difficult questions of statutory construction and administrative decision-making.

He has substantial advocacy experience, including in cross-examining vulnerable witnesses, and medical and financial experts. He regularly acts in complex cases involving medical or financial evidence, to which he brings his formidable forensic skills, and detailed and rigorous approach to case preparation.

Josh regularly advises and appears in taxation matters in the Federal Court and Administrative Review Tribunal.

Josh has an established native title practice and has appeared in significant Federal Court proceedings concerning extinguishment. His expertise in native title was recognised by Doyle’s Guide in 2026.

His broader public law practice includes information privacy, Commonwealth entitlements, inquests, and National Disability Insurance Scheme matters, with extensive experience acting for the Agency.

Josh is a reporter for the Queensland Reports, previously working in the same role for the Federal Law Reports.

Some notable cases in which Josh has appeared include:

• AB v Chief Executive of Queensland Health [2025] QSC 277 (led by Mark Steele KC with Storm Scarlett) on a successful application for judicial review in which the Supreme Court of Queensland made the rare finding that a senior public servant acted at the behest of a Minister.

• Torres Strait Island Regional Council v Chief Executive of the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development [2025] QSC 58 (led by Peter Dunning KC) on issues of statutory construction under the Torres Strait Islander Land Act 1991 (Qld).

• Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council v Attorney-General of New South Wales [2025] FCA 1492 (unled, instructed by Crown Solicitor’s Office NSW) about whether a certain lease was a “special lease” which extinguished native title under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth).

• Brisbane Club v Commissioner of Taxation [2026] FCA 220 (led by Dan Butler KC) on the interpretation and application of capital gains tax provisions as to whether certain assets were post or pre-CGT.

• Redland City Council v Quandamooka Coast People & State of Queensland (Federal Court of Australia, Stewart J, currently reserved) (led by Stephen Lloyd SC and acting for Energex) about whether certain electricity infrastructure extinguishes native title.