Employers and Judges need to be held to account.
I didn’t actually get an answer to this so will follow up again next week in estimates, but we need to make sure Fair Work Commissioners are included in any Independent Judicial Review Commission.
Given what took place in Covid whereby employers forced people to be injured and then sacked them for not lining up to be injured again these grubs need to be held to account.
Education and Employment Legislation Committee
06/11/2024
Estimates
EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS PORTFOLIO
Fair Work Commission
Senator RENNICK: I’ve one quick question for you, Minister. I know there’s talk about an independent judicial commission. Would that include Fair Work commissioners being reviewed as well? From what I can see, there’s no actual review mechanism at the moment in regard to the Fair Work Commission decisions.
Senator Watt: I think the independent judicial commission you’re talking about is something that the Attorney-General has been considering. I’ve lost track of where it’s up to.
Senator RENNICK: Fair enough.
Senator Watt: But I thought the intention there would involve judges of courts, not commissioners or tribunal members.
Senator RENNICK: I accept that. I guess my question to you is: is it something to consider? Because we could end up having the Fair Work Commission sitting outside the judicial system. They are quasi judges, in a way. I guess it’s something to consider as to whether or not they should be brought in under—
Senator Watt: We could get into a discussion about whether they are quasi-judicial or not. I suggest that the best way might to be for you to put a question on notice to the Attorney-General, who would have responsibility for that.
Senator RENNICK: Thank you. Thanks, Chair.
