Industrial Relations Commission
John McCarthy
September 07, 2009
QUEENSLAND taxes pay for eight commissioners on $300,000 a year each whose duties have been slashed but are guaranteed their jobs until they turn 70.
The State Government has no idea what it will do with the Industrial Relations Commission and is hoping talks later this month with the Federal Government and other states about a national system will boost the workload of the faction-riddled commission.
Its caseload has halved in recent years and the commission is also grappling with a huge credibility issue after its highly regarded president, David Hall, raised serious questions about his vice president Dianne Linnane in January when he claimed one of her rulings could be seen as a "deliberate untruth".
Asked whether he had confidence in his commissioners, Mr Hall said: "The commission cannot function if the president is drawn into public comment about the accomplishments of commissioners."
The "deliberate untruth" claim followed allegations in 2003 from Ms Linnane that Mr Hall had harassed her and called her a "lying slag" in a private meeting. He has denied harassing her, but users of the commission have serious doubts about its effectiveness.
Talk of a 10-year Labor Party factional war and "a pattern of revenge" has created a poisonous atmosphere.
Mr Hall however rejects any perception that the commission has little to do and has personality issues.
He said the commission had downsized, with three commissioners retiring since 2007, and was "struggling to dispose of matters in a timely way".
Those who use the commission (unions, employers, advocates and lawyers) wonder why there has been no fallout from the "deliberate untruth" claims.
Official complaints over rulings have been made but there have been no public repurcussions.
Opposition industrial relations spokesman Lawrence Springborg said there was little for the commissioners to do since most awards drifted into the federal system.
"You either restructure it, get rid of them or find something else for them to do," he said.
Mr Springborg said the factional war could become destructive "when they are slagging off at each other".
He said the Government's plan to tie in with the Federal Government system was wishful thinking and amendments to legislation earlier this year to allow it was like buying a wedding ring without knowing who you would marry.
Attorney-General and Industrial Relations Minister Cameron Dick (pictured) said a full review of the commission and its activities would be conducted.
He said he had faith any internal grievances would be handled appropriately.
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