The state government plans to abolish the Tasmanian Industrial Commission and fold its functions into a general administrative tribunal, Attorney-General Guy Barnett has revealed.
The announcement emerged during budget estimates hearings on Tuesday.
It surprised independent MP David O’Byrne, who had been questioning the Attorney-General about ongoing delays in the commission’s work.
O’Byrne raised concerns about workers waiting more than two years for decisions, with public sector unions also reporting significant frustration at the backlog.
“Justice delayed is a real concern for a whole lot of working people,” he said. “Their lives are in limbo.”
Barnett acknowledged the delays were unacceptable.
“I don’t think they can be defended and it’s not satisfactory,” he said.
He then confirmed plans to transfer the commission’s responsibilities to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT).
“The government has committed to expanding the jurisdiction of TASCAT and this reform presents another opportunity to achieve these benefits,” Barnett said.
Under the proposal, the commission’s annual budget would be cut from $1.4 million to $700,000 in the forward estimates.
O’Byrne said the move was alarming, questioning whether a general tribunal could deliver the specialised expertise required for industrial relations.
“The industrial commission is a very specialised and targeted form of industrial justice for working people,” he said.
“It relies on people who have experience to not only arbitrate but to conciliate.”
In a statement after the hearing, O’Byrne said the decision was a “bombshell” and warned it would “significantly erode workplace rights in Tasmania”.
“The TIC has been a cornerstone of justice for Tasmanian workers for decades,” he said.
“To drop such a significant reform in the absence of any coherent argument or consultation with those affected is a disgrace.”
“It shows a clear dismissal of and a disregard for the rights of working people in Tasmania.”
Barnett said the Department of Justice would lead the reform process and consult with public sector unions.
The industrial commission and its predecessor have overseen workplace disputes in Tasmania since the late 1980s.
