Vice President Ross is a member of the advisory boards of the Australian Centre for Industrial Relations Research and Training (ACIRRT) and Deakin University’s Centre for Change Management. He is also a member of Sydney University’s Master of Labour Law and Relations Board of Studies and the International Industrial Relations Association’s Study Group – Justice, Judges and Industrial Relations. He is a part-time member of the NSW Law Reform Commission and a part-time lecturer in the Faculty of Law at Sydney University. Vice President Ross attended the Australian Institute of Judicial Administration Tribunals Conference in Sydney in June 2001.

Justice Boulton is a member of the Advisory Board of the Centre for Employment and Labour Relations Law, University of Melbourne, and a member of the Editorial Committee of the Australian Journal of Labour Law. He presented a paper on The Role of the Commission in Resolving Workplace Disputes to the Annual Delegates Conference of The Australian Workers’ Union in Sydney in August 2000.

Senior Deputy President Polites is the chairman of the Federal Costs Advisory Committee which advises the Chief Justices of all federal courts in relation to fee scales. He is also the chair of the Australian Entertainment Industry Council. The Senior Deputy President spoke at the regional conference of the Australian Mines and Metals Association in November 2000 and was the after-dinner speaker at the annual conference of the Australian Mines and Metals Association in Perth in March 2001.

Senior Deputy President Harrison is the chairperson of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Remuneration Tribunal.

Senior Deputy President Drake is a part-time member of the NSW Law Reform Commission and a member of the Sisters of Charity Advisory Finance Committee.

Senior Deputy President Cartwright is a director of the Australian School of Management which is a joint venture between the University of NSW and the University of Sydney. He is also chairman of the Australian Graduate School of Management Alumni Board at the University of New South Wales. He recently retired as a Commissioner on the Commonwealth Government’s Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission.

Commissioner Hoffman continues to be the chairman of the Northern Territory Police Arbitral Tribunal, the Northern Territory Prison Officers Arbitral Tribunal and the Senior Prison Officers Arbitral Tribunal. He also chairs the National Investigation Committee of the National Institute of Accountants.

Commissioner Foggo is a council member of the Victoria University of Technology and a member of the Executive Committee of the Industrial Relations Society of Victoria.

Commissioner Cargill is a member of ACIRRT’s Advisory Board and co-convener of its advocacy course.

Commissioner Whelan is the chair of the Victoria Workplace Studies Centre Advisory Committee.

Commissioner Grainger is a member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) National Commission of Australia and chairs its Communications Network. He is also a director of the Australian Children’s Television Foundation. Professional Development

Section 39 of the Workplace Relations Act 1996 provides that at least once in a year there be a conference of Members of the Commission. The 2001 Statutory Conference of Members was held in Sydney in June. It was addressed by Members of the Commission, former Commissioner Mr Bob Laing and several senior Registry staff. Topics included a review of recent High Court and Federal Court decisions, decision writing, conciliating and arbitrating with time constraints and United States and Canadian case management and reporting.

Members are involved in a range of educational and professional development courses on an ongoing basis. In the reporting period, a number were enrolled in or completed undergraduate, higher studies or short courses – mainly in the fields of law, industrial relations or mediation.

Industry Consultative Councils

Pursuant to s.133 of the Act, the Commission has continued to facilitate the operation of consultative councils for particular industries. The following councils are chaired by Members of the Commission:

Justice Munro chairs the Metal Industry Consultative Council.

Senior Deputy President Marsh chairs the Meat Industry Consultative Council and the Local Government Consultative Council.

Senior Deputy President Harrison is the chair of the Road Transport Industry Consultative Council.

Senior Deputy President Williams is the chairperson of the Felt Hatting Industry Consultative Committee. Commissioner Cargill is a member of the same committee and acts as chairperson in the absence of Senior Deputy President Williams.

Commissioner Simmonds is a member of the National Local Government Consultative Committee and the National Meat Industry Consultative Committee. He is the chairperson of both the Victorian Local Government Consultative Committee and the Western Australian Local Government Consultative Committee.