Fair Work Commission Deputy President Barred From Hearing Vaxxine Matters Until Training Is Completed

Fair Work Commission Deputy President Barred From Hearing Vaxxine Matters Until Training Is Completed

By National Times Australia

A deputy president of the Fair Work Commission (FWC) who protests against vaccination mandates will be barred from hearing on vaccination matters in the workplace and will not be included in full bench work until he or she has completed training.

Deputy President Lyndall Dean last month likened vaccination mandates to “medical apartheid and segregation” and said the concept was “the antithesis [sic] of our democratic way of life and all that we value ”.

He made the statements in a disagreement judgment in an unfair dismissal case involving a woman who was fired from a job at a nursing home for refusing to get a flu shot.

On Wednesday, it was revealed that Ms Dean had also expressed support for a social media post arguing that the public health measures implemented during the pandemic were similar to “Chinese-style totalitarian social control”.

In response to the LinkedIn post, which also suggested that the world was on the brink of a Holocaust-like catastrophe, Ms Dean commented “I totally agree”.

FWC General Manager Murray Furlong told Senate Estimates on Wednesday that Commission President Iain Ross had received a complaint in relation to Ms Dean.

“Although the President does not have the power to discipline members, he does have some powers to deal with complaints about members,” he said.

Mr Furlong said the President wrote to Ms Dean instructing her to “attend to training on the responsibilities and standards of professional conduct expected of a commission member”.

“He will not be included in all and any further full bank work at least until he completes that training,” Mr Furlong said in Senate estimates.

“And he disqualified himself on grounds of bias from judging disputes related to future workplace vaccinations.”

Mr Furlong said Industrial Relations Minister Michaelia Cash was also informed of the steps taken in response to the complaint.

When asked by Labor senators about the post on social media, Acting Attorney-General Amanda Stoker said she disagreed with it.

“It’s something I’ve seen for the first time now, it’s not a view I share,” she said.

Senator Tony Sheldon asked if he had any concerns about the views the commissioner espoused.

“I don’t know what Ms. Dean’s full range of conduct has been, and I think it would be foolish to judge the totality of someone’s contribution in light of an article,” Senator Stoker replied.

“But that said, I don’t agree with what he posted, and it seems the methodology put in place by the commission to manage any perception of bias that arises here is appropriate.”

Senator Cash announced Ms Dean’s appointment to the commission in 2016.

“He is highly regarded as an attorney in workplace relations and brings a high level of analytical, negotiation and conflict resolution skills to this role, as well as a demonstrated capacity for complex labor. decision, “he said in a statement at the time.

“I am confident the skills and experience he will bring to the commission, including an understanding of small business needs, will help the commission’s work to ensure that Australia has fairer and more productive workplaces. “