The Federal Government has confirmed another Fair Work Commission (FWC) member has retired following the controversial departure of Vice President Graeme Watson’s last month (WF 27/1/2017).

Employment minister Senator Michaelia Cash has told Workforce Daily Senior Deputy President Matthew O’Callaghan had resigned. O’Callaghan is understood to be leaving on April 30.

Cash said “following the resignation of Vice President Watson and Senior Deputy President O’Callaghan the Government will be making further appointments to the Fair Work Commission shortly”.

AREEA calls for FWC overhaul

Australian Mines and Metals Association (AREEA) CEO Steve Knott said SDP O’Callaghan’s departure provided the Federal Govt with an “opportunity to overhaul a tribunal in crisis”.

In a statement Knott said there had been 15 departures from the FWC since March 2014 and eight replacements and a “minimum of a further six retirements scheduled during this current term”. Knott urged the govt to fill the vacancies with replacements at commissioner-level to address the top-heavy structure. New appointees should have “real experience running businesses and employing people rather than recruiting from the ‘IR club’ of ex-trade union bosses and labour lawyers”. He reiterated the need for a new, separate appeals jurisdiction to “ensure consistent decision making and send clearer signals about employment to business owners and managers”.

More panel changes needed

The Fair Work Commission this week announced a panel restructure in the wake of VP Watson’s resignation and will have to again plug the gaps left by SDP O’Callaghan.

The current changes will see Vice President Joe Catanzariti appointed the FWC’s panel head of the Major Resources/Infrastructure Projects Panel, filling the role previously held by Vice President Graeme Watson. Before his FWC appointment VP Catanzariti was a senior partner at law firm Clayton Utz, providing advice to leading private companies and government departments.  Deputy President Jonathon Hamberger will replace VP Watson as head of the Organisations Panel with Deputy Presidents ‘s Val Gostencnik will be its deputy and Melanie Binet a member.

The Expert Panel for Assessing Default Superannuation Funds has been removed.

This coverage featured in Workforce, Issue 20445 , Thursday 16 February 2017.