APPOINTMENTS TO THE FAIR WORK COMMISSION
The Albanese Labor Government is continuing to deliver on its promise to restore balance to the Fair Work Commission.
The previous government spent a decade stacking the Commission.
26 of 27 permanent appointments to the Commission under the previous Coalition government came from an employer background.
In Opposition we repeatedly pledged to rebalance the Commission to give workers an equal voice in decisions that affect them.
Today I announce three new appointments to the Fair Work Commission.
Mr Mark Gibian SC has been appointed as Vice President of the Commission, commencing on 11 June 2024 following the retirement of Mr Joseph Catanzariti AM on 3 June 2024.
On behalf of the Government, I thank Mr Catanzariti AM for his strong leadership as Vice President of the Commission over the last decade.
Ms Julia Fox and Mr Ben Redford have also been appointed as Commissioners. Ms Fox’s appointment will commence on 27 May 2024 and Mr Redford’s appointment will commence on 8 July 2024.
All three appointees have extensive experience and will bring impartiality, dedication and diligence to the Commission.
The work of the Commission is more important than ever with the implementation of the Government’s significant workplace relations reforms to ensure secure jobs, better pay and safer workplaces for Australian workers.
The two new Commissioners will assist the Fair Work Commission in performing new functions arising from the passage of the Government’s Closing Loopholes laws.
Even with these appointments the Commission is still not balanced after a decade of shameless stacking by the previous Coalition government.
I look forward to the day I can return to appointing people to the Commission from employee and employer backgrounds in equal numbers.
Biographies:
Mr Mark Gibian SC is a barrister at HB Higgins Chambers, Sydney. Mr Gibian SC has been a barrister since 2002 and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2018. His principal areas of practice include industrial and employment law, administrative law and judicial review, migration and refugee law, human rights and discrimination law and disciplinary proceedings. Mr Gibian SC was a lecturer in industrial law at the University of Sydney from 2005 to 2018 and a lecturer in employment law at the University of New South Wales from 2005 to 2007. He was also a member of the New South Wales Bar Association’s Industrial, Employment, Health and Safety Committee from 2018 until 2020. Mr Gibian SC has a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Sydney.
Ms Julia Fox is the National Assistant Secretary at the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA) since 2016. Ms Fox led the ‘Challenges of work, family and care’ report which underpinned improvements to flexible working arrangements. Ms Fox has held various positions with the SDA since 1996, including as an Organiser in the SDA Victorian Branch (1996–2000) and then as a National Industrial Officer and National Work Health and Safety Officer (2000–2016). Ms Fox has a Bachelor of Arts from Swinburne University and a Master of Laws (Juris Doctor) from Monash University.
Mr Ben Redford is an Executive Director at the United Workers Union since 2019. Before then, Mr Redford was Assistant Secretary at United Voice Victoria (2007–2019) and a Legal Officer at the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (2004–2007). Mr Redford was also a Solicitor at Job Watch (2000–2004). Mr Redford has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from Deakin University.
ENDS