Former workplace relations minister and prime minister Julia Gillard, AREEA chief executive Steve Knott, FWC member Leigh Johns, and NSW public servant Peter Riordan have been recognised for the contributions to IR in the Australia Day Honours.

Gillard received an AC for “eminent service to the Parliament of Australia, particularly as Prime Minister, through seminal contributions to economic and social development, particularly policy reform in the areas of education, disability care, workplace relations, health, foreign affairs and the environment, and as a role model to women” (see her citation).

She served as the workplace relations minister in the Rudd Government from late 2007 (see Related Article) until she became prime minister in June 2010 (see Related Article).

Gillard was shadow workplace relations minister for almost a year (see Related Article) and had previously been a workplace lawyer.

Knott, the head of AREEA since 1998, received an AM for for significant service to the resources and energy industries, to the advancement of women, and to industrial relations (see his citation).

Commissioner Johns, a member of the FWC since March 2013 (see Related Article), received an OAM for “service to the community through performing arts and primary health care organisations, and to industrial relations” (see his citation).

Senior NSW Department of Education executive Peter Riordan received a public service medal for “outstanding public service to industrial relations and education in New South Wales” (see his citation).

Riordan, the deputy secretary, corporate services for the department, is also a former national assistant secretary of the FSU.

Full coverage in the Workplace Express