Earlier this year, Attorney-General Nicola Roxon declared that she was determined to cast the widest net for the nation's top judges.

She said she was seeking greater diversity including in the attributes of gender, professional background, geography and cultural background.

"What I want is that people don't think they can only nominate a commercial barrister from Sydney, who's a man," Ms Roxon told The Age in March.

Today, Ms Roxon said Mr Gageler, a former Sydney barrister, was ''the best person for the job".

Mr Gageler will be the 49th person appointed to the High Court since Federation. Mr Gageler, 54, has served as the Commonwealth Solicitor-General since September 2008.