Media Release

20 May 2021

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Labor has expressed concern about the Government’s appointment of Chris Muir to the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC), accusing the Berejiklian Government of making a political appointment instead of putting a suitably qualified and experienced woman on the IRC.

Mr Muir has extensive experience as a political staffer in the Berejiklian Government, including as Chief of Staff to Andrew Constance. Mr Muir first served as Mr Constance’s Chief of Staff when he held the Industrial Relations portfolio, and then in the Transport Portfolio during the Ferry McFerryface debacle.

“The Berejiklian Government has failed to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced woman to the NSW IRC, preferring to put politics first” — Adam Searle, Labor Leader in the Legislative Council and Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations

“This will mean only two out of seven commissioners are women. The business community, trade union movement and legal community all have many talented women candidates who could ably serve on the IRC. Instead, the Berejiklian Government has gone with a former Liberal party staffer.”

Mr Searle has welcomed the appointment of Daniel O’Sullivan to the NSW Industrial Relations Commission.

“Mr O’Sullivan has extensive experience in IR as both a solicitor and barrister over many years and has a good reputation across the industrial community”, he said.

Labor has also welcomed the re-appointment of Commissioner John Murphy to the NSW IRC.