Expressions of interest have opened for the appointment of a President and Deputy Presidents for the new Industrial Court of New South Wales.
The Industrial Relations Amendment Act 2023 delivered on the NSW Government’s commitment to end the wages cap and provide essential workers access to a fair and independent umpire.
The Industrial Relations Commission and the new court will be the central industrial tribunal and court for hearing all NSW Government industrial relations matters, setting remuneration and other conditions of employment, resolving industrial disputes and work, health and safety (WHS) matters.
The Industrial Court will be a superior court of record with equivalent status to the Supreme Court and the Land and Environment Court.
To be eligible for appointment as President of the Industrial Court, a candidate must be an Australian lawyer with at least seven years’ experience or currently hold or have held a judicial office in Australia.
The judges will be appointed by the Governor of NSW on the recommendation of the Attorney General. The appointments will be on a full-time basis until retirement age.
Minister for Industrial Relations, Sophie Cotsis said:
“We promised meaningful industrial relations reform, and this is being delivered.
“The blunt instrument of the former government’s approach has been replaced by genuine, meaningful bargaining overseen by a fair and independent court and commission.
Attorney General Michael Daley said:
“The Labor Government is taking time to conduct a national search for the best people to lead and re-establish the Industrial Court in NSW. Working people in NSW deserve nothing less.
“The new Industrial Relations Court will help ensure that our hard-working paramedics, nurses, school teachers and admin staff, emergency service workers and police are paid appropriately.”