Curtain up on a new era of workplace relations
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 02 July 2009: 4.
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Abstract
THERE was the traditional knock on the door, a voice intoned “all rise” and judge Geoffrey Giudice walked on to the podium at the oldAustralian Industrial Relations Commission hearing room. […] he began his role as the the new president of Fair Work Australia shortly after 9am yesterday.
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THERE was the traditional knock on the door, a voice intoned “all rise” and judge Geoffrey Giudice walked on to the podium at the oldAustralian Industrial Relations Commission hearing room.
Thus he began his role as the the new president of Fair Work Australia shortly after 9am yesterday.
Behind him were most of the former members of the AIRC, who had just been sworn in as members of Fair Work Australia.
In front, at the bar table, were Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Sharon Burrow, president of the ACTU, Stephen Smith, director of national workplace relations for the Australian Industry Group and Greg Evans, acting head of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The crowded courtroom, high above the streets in the same office tower previously occupied by the AIRC in East Sydney, was hushed with expectation at what most regarded as a historic moment for the country.
Justice Giudice welcomed everyone, including, in a sign of the times, those joining them for the inaugural sitting of Fair Work Australia via the internet. Before his appointment as the first president of Fair Work Australia in May, Justice Giudice was thepresident of the AIRC.
Fair Work Australia now assumes most of its functions, including dispute resolution and the handling of unfair dismissal applications.
It will also be responsible for minimum wage fixing and approving collective agreements.
Justice Giudice graduated from the University of Melbourne with degrees in arts and law in 1970.
He was employed in the health and retail industries until 1979 before practising as a solicitor. He was called to the Victorian Bar in 1984 and practised in state and federal courts principally in industrial relations and employment law.
Justice Giudice took up the position of AIRC president in 1997. He was appointed a judge of the Federal Court at the same time.
Justice Giudice will continue as the president of the AIRC until 31 December, when it ceases to operate.
The old body is still dealing, at the direct request of Ms Gillard, with the complex task of modernising thousands of federal awards. As in Sydney, existing AIRC offices have now become Fair Work Australia offices.
After hearing the submissions of those at the bar table, Justice Giudice responded by joking that the FWA had probably reached its peak of popularity in a jurisdiction always attended by controversy and where everyone thought they were an expert.
He said its work was important.
“The minimum-wage fixing functions, for example, will directly affect millions of Australians,” he said.
“The creation of a new workplace relations tribunal is a significant event in Australia’s history.
“The establishment of Fair Work Australia is a departure from previous systems.
Credit: John Stapleton