The Industrial Court, established last year by the Industrial Relations Amendment Act 2023, will be the specialised venue for industrial relations in NSW, resolving industrial disputes, and dealing with work health and safety matters.
It will act as a superior court of record, with equivalent status to the Supreme Court and the Land and Environment Court.
Ingmar Taylor SC, a nationally recognised expert in employment law and work health and safety, will be appointed President of the IRC and a judge of the Industrial Court.
David Chin SC, a specialist in work health and safety, industrial, employment and discrimination law, who co-authored The Modern Contract of Employment, will be the IRC’s Vice-President and a judge of the Industrial Court.
Jane Paingakulam, who has practiced primarily in criminal law and provided advice to government agencies on public sector issues, will be the IRC’s Deputy President and a judge of the Industrial Court.
The three will now be formally recommended to the Governor for appointment.
The NSW Industrial Court will hear all industrial relations matters relating to NSW State Government and Local Government employees. Private sector employees will remain under the Fair Work Commission.
The Industrial Court will hear matters relating to work health and safety in New South Wales and will again have jurisdiction over matters that were transferred to other courts when the Industrial Court was abolished in 2016.
Attorney General Michael Daley said:
“I am delighted to announce three eminent and respected legal practitioners will be the first appointees to the Industrial Court of NSW.
“The re-establishment of the Industrial Court was a key election promise of the NSW Labor Government to ensure that public sector employees have access to a fair and independent umpire.”
Minister for Industrial Relations Sophie Cotsis said:
“By creating a one-stop shop for industrial justice, the new Industrial Court is a significant win for working people.
“I congratulate the respected and very qualified Mr Taylor SC, Mr Chin SC and Ms Paingakulam on their appointments to the court”.
