The Albanese government has announced five union-linked appointments to the industrial umpire in a bid to “restore balance”.
The former Coalition government made 27 permanent appointments to the Fair Work Commission – 26 coming from an employer background.
As a result, there are now 29 commission members with an employer background and nine members with a worker background.
“For the commission to work as intended it needs to be properly balanced. It should work in the interests of workers and businesses alike,” Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke said on Thursday.
“I look forward to the day when I can return to appointing people from employee and employer backgrounds in equal numbers.”
Ingrid Asbury has been promoted to the role of vice-president of the commission, following the appointment of Justice Adam Hatcher as president.
She has been a deputy president of the commission since 2013 and is president of the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal and chair of the Northern Territory Policy Arbitral Tribunal.
Prior to her appointment to the Queensland industrial umpire, Ms Asbury was national industry group manager for the Australian Industry Group.
New deputy presidents include Judith Wright, the deputy secretary of the NSW clerical union, and Thomas Roberts, an ACTU senior legal officer.
Joining them will be Peter O’Keeffe, the branch secretary of the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association WA branch, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers principal lawyer Alexandra Grayson, and Sharon Durham, a former lead industrial officer with the Queensland Council of Unions.
-AAP
