H.R. Nicholls Appoints New Leadership Team
March 12, 2024
THE H.R. Nicholls Society is pleased to announce Frank Parry KC as its new President, bringing 34 years of experience at the Victorian Bar specialising in industrial relations and employment.
Mr Parry is joined by former federal ministerial staffer Marie Hogg as Executive Director and former Australian Public Service Commissioner the Hon. John Lloyd PSM as Senior Research Fellow, to advocate for sensible industrial relations reform in the face of the serious productivity and economic issues confronting Australia.
Mr Parry, who took silk in 2002, has been involved in many major industrial disputes, across the mining, aviation and waterfront areas.
Mr Parry said support for the Society had grown in response to Labor’s latest IR amendments.
“It is the wrong direction to add more regulation and complexity to workplaces at a time when productivity is in decline,” Mr Parry said.
“My focus will be on small and medium businesses across Australia that can’t afford to navigate these changes, or the broader Fair Work Act that has become anything but fair on them.
“The Act now operates to drive a wedge between employers and employees, creating a system that’s not sustainable for a modern economy.
“I look forward to leading a strong and active body, independent of employers and unions, to provide ideas on how to improve workplace regulation, empower employer-employee relations and promote productivity.”
Mr Lloyd was the Australian Public Service Commissioner from 2014-2018, and the initial Australian Building and Construction Commissioner from 2005-2010, with responsibility for securing lawful conduct across the Australian building and construction industry.
Mr Lloyd said: “The competitive strength of the Australian economy is at risk and as a result Australia’s living standards will continue to fall. What we need is a system that promotes entrepreneurship and innovation, and modern, flexible workplaces with open dialogue between employers and employees.”
