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To support new bullying, harassment, and workers’ compensation laws, a non-judicial deputy president and four commissioners have been added to the NSW Industrial Relations Commission.
Janet McDonald, a practitioner with over 36 years of experience, has been elevated from her role as commissioner at the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) to a non-judicial deputy president.
Prior to her appointment to the IRC in 2022, McDonald practised as a barrister in work, health and safety prosecutions before the Industrial Court, the District Court of NSW, and the IRC.
McDonald’s promotion follows the commencement of the state government’s workers’ compensation reforms, which have given the IRC expanded jurisdiction across workers’ compensation.
The commission’s new functions will allow it to determine whether conduct that gave rise to injury was bullying and harassment.
Its powers will now include stop-bullying and sexual harassment orders and an enhanced capacity to facilitate return to work for injured workers employed within the public sector.
The IRC has also added four new commissioners: Marina Rizzo, Gordon Brock, Julian Arndt, and Gavin Webb.
Rizzo has 30 years of experience as a senior legal and industrial relations commissioner and has had carriage of complex and high-profile public law matters across employment, industrial relations, anti-discrimination, and work, health, and safety.
She also led the employment law and industrial relations practice at the NSW Crown Solicitor’s Office and was executive director of the industrial relations branch at the NSW Premier’s Department.
Across his 32 years of experience, Brock has represented union members in disputes before the IRC and has advanced award and enterprise agreement negotiations on behalf of employees.
Brock has executive-level experience and occupied board positions at Vision Super and Local Government Super. He has also been an executive member of Unions NSW and Hunter Workers.
Arndt has more than 16 years of experience in industrial relations, with a particular focus on employer and industry interests.
Arndt has been a solicitor-advocate on many matters before the IRC and has significant experience in the Fair Work Commission, including as lead employer advocate in a range of prominent industrial test cases, as well as in award, dismissal, and bargaining.
Arndt is also a director of Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors (ABLA).
ABLA chief executive Nigel Ward said: “Julian is well suited to this role, not just for his technical and industrial acumen but for his passion for balance and fairness, which is at the core of who he is.”
Webb has over 12 years of experience, the last nine as the chief legal officer of the Transport Workers’ Union, where he led its strategic legal operations and compliance frameworks.
Webb appeared before the IRC on behalf of members and has a recognised specialisation in complex contract determinations and contract agreements under the Industrial Relations Act 1966.
In welcoming the appointments, Sophie Cotsis, NSW Minister for Industrial Relations, said the government was committed to ensuring the IRC “remains an independent, well-resourced tribunal that can effectively promote fairness in the workplace”.
