The loss of Canberra’s dedicated Fair Work Commissioner could not come at a worse time for the city’s workers or their bosses, the ACT government says.
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Employment Minister Mick Gentleman is warning of long delays in settling disputes or putting workplace agreements into place in the wake of the retirement this week of locally-based Fair Work Australia Commissioner Barbara Deegan.
The move comes as Canberra’s biggest employer, the Australian Public Service with 60,000 local employees, is racked by industrial turmoil, facing bitter wage disputes, thousands of job losses, and the merger and takeover of departments and agencies.
Both the commission and Federal Employment Minister Eric Abetz have confirmed Ms Deegan, who has served in the role for 18 years, will not be replaced and that her job will be done by visiting commissioners from Sydney and Melbourne.
The decision means Canberra will join Darwin and Hobart as the only capital cities without a resident Fair Work Commissioner or member.
Senator Abetz’s office confirmed the hiring of a new commissioner was a ministerial decision but said the Fair Work Act did not require him to recruit a replacement for Ms Deegan.
A spokeswoman for the Minister said the allocation of commissioners to certain cities was a decision for the Melbourne-based commission itself.
''The allocation of members of the Fair Work Commission to particular cities or particular matters is a decision made by the president of the commission independent of government,'' the spokeswoman said.
The Fair Work Commission said its travelling member arrangement would allow its business in Canberra to be done ''quickly and efficiently''.
''We have put procedures in place to ensure that Canberra matters continue to be dealt with quickly and efficiently,'' a spokeswoman said.
''This includes having a senior commission member hearing matters on a regular basis. We are confident that this will service the needs of the Canberra community.
''However, we will of course continue to review this situation on an ongoing basis.''
But Mr Gentleman said he and his colleagues were not convinced.
''I really am concerned,'' the newly appointed Minister said.
''Barbara Deegan is not going to be replaced by a full-time member and I will be writing to Eric Abetz.
''At this early time we understand she’ll be replaced by some other people in the commission on a temporary basis but this still could mean quite significant delays for decisions and other matters before the commission.
''That will be a concern for workers and employers across the territory because it might be a matter where employers want a change to occur and they won’t be addressed as quickly as we’d like to see.''
Mr Gentleman said the industrial problems facing the federal public service made the timing of the move to withdraw Canberra’s commission member particularly worrying.
''It couldn’t have been any worse. It is bad timing with all these industrial matters that could come before the commission shortly,'' the Minister said.
