AIER Ron McCallum Debate Archive

AIER 13TH ANNUAL RON MCCALLUM DEBATE

The Australian Institute of Employment Rights (“AIER“) 13th Annual Ron McCallum Debate was held on 16 November 2023, and was entitled: “Voices and Work – Reform, Challenge, Diversity and the Universal Fair Go”.

Participants included:

• Anna Cody, Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission
• The Hon Tony Burke MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, by video address
• John Ritchotte, Senior Labour Relations & Collective Bargaining Specialist, International Labour Organization
• Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, by video address
• Nicola Street, Director – Workplace Relations Policy, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Australian Industry Group
• Emeritus Professor Ron McCallum AO, Patron, Australian Institute of Employment Rights
• Karen Iles, Director and Principal Solicitor, Violet Co
• Liam O’Brien, Assistant Secretary, Australian Council of Trade Unions
• Judy Singer, Sociologist and Author
• Syed Mubashir, Rideshare Driver Network
• Anna Boucher, Associate Professor, Sydney University and Solicitor

AIER 12TH ANNUAL RON MCCALLUM DEBATE

Proudly sponsored by Harmers Workplace Lawyers, the 12^th Annual Ron McCallum Debate was held in Sydney on 24 October 2022. The theme of this year’s Debate was “Future-Proofing Work Relations in Times of Crises“, and included keynote speeches from the Hon. Tony Burke MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations; John Ritchotte, International Labour Organization; and Emeritus Professor Ron McCallum AO. 

The Debate was moderated by Justice Iain Ross AO, President of the Fair Work Commission, with panelists, Liam O’Brien, Assistant Secretary, Australian Council of Trade Unions; Melissa Donnelly, National Secretary, Community and Public Sector Union; Denita Wawn, Chief Executive, Master Builders Australia; Stephen Smith, Principal, Actus Workplace Lawyers; Nareen Young, Professor of Indigenous Policy, University of Technology Sydney; Anna Chapman, Professor, Melbourne Law School, and Mark Perica AM, AIER Vice President,

The Debate included the launch of  ‘A New Work Architecture: the AIER model for the future of work’, which is available for purchase via the AIER website here.

THE 11TH ANNUAL RON McCALLUM DEBATE

18 November 2021 – Proudly sponsored by Harmers Workplace Lawyers, the Australian Institute of Employment Rights’ 2021 Ron McCallum Debate recording is now available.

The Debate featured keynote presentations from Greg Vines, Emeritus Prof. Ron McCallum AO, Hon. Michaelia Cash and Hon. Tony Burke. Our panel discussion was facilitated by the President of the Fair Work Commission, Justice Iain Ross AO, and included perspectives from senior leaders from the IR community: Michele O’Neil, Andrew McKellar, Michael Kaine, Innes Willox, Emeritus Professor David Peetz, Emma Walsh, and Sanushka Mudaliar.

Read the audience background paper here.
Download the event transcript here.

THE 10TH ANNUAL RON McCALLUM DEBATE 2020

Sponsored by Harmers Workplace Lawyers and hosted by the Australian Institute of Employment Rights (“AIER”), this debate, entitled: “Labour Relations and Pandemics: Past, Present, Future” was held online on Thursday, 22 October 2020. An expert panel discussed the questions: “What is the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on work, employment and labour relations globally and locally, and what impetus and opportunity does it present for reform?” As well as the question, “What role have previous pandemics and crises played in labour regulation and labour relations?”

Chaired by Justice Iain Ross AO, President of the Fair Work Commission, introduced by Greg Vines, the Deputy Director-General of the International Labour Organisation with reflections by Ron McCallum AO, Emeritus Professor, and Michael Harmer who is Chairman and Firm Founder of Harmers Workplace Lawyers.

Panelists include, Sally McManus, Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Jennifer Westacott AO, Chief Executive of the Business Council of Australia, Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group, Annie Butler, Federal Secretary of the Australian Nursery and Midwifery Association, Joellen Riley Munton, Professor of the Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney and David Peetz FASSA, Professor of Employment Relations of Griffith University.

THE 10TH ANNUAL RON McCALLUM DEBATE 2020 from Harmers Workplace Lawyers on Vimeo.

THE 9TH ANNUAL RON McCALLUM DEBATE 2019

Sponsored by Harmers Workplace Lawyers and hosted by the Australian Institute of Employment Rights (“AIER”), this debate, entitled: “Representation and voice in the new world of work”, was held on Thursday, 31 October 2019 at UTS in Sydney. With 2019 marking the centenary of the ILO, an expert panel discussed the role and form of representation and voice in the new world of work. Asking what does freedom of association – a foundational principle of the ILO – need to look like 100 years on; and how should it be expressed?

Moderated by the Hon Geoff Giudice AO, with reflections from Emeritus Professor Ron McCallum AO, the panel discussion also featured: Natalie James, Partner, Deloitte and former Fair Work Ombudsman; Professor Rae Cooper AO, The University of Sydney; Michael Kaine, National Secretary, Transport Workers Union; and Sue Bussell AM, Partner, Workplace Relations Advisory, KPMG.

THE 9TH ANNUAL RON McCALLUM DEBATE 2019 from Harmers Workplace Lawyers on Vimeo.

THE 8TH ANNUAL RON McCALLUM DEBATE 2018

Sponsored by Harmers Workplace Lawyers and hosted by the Australian Institute of Employment Rights, the 8th Annual Ron McCallum Debate was held at the Lyceum Theatre on Tuesday 9 October 2018. This year’s debate challenged whether collective bargaining can deliver for Australian employees, employers and the public interest. The debate was moderated by former FWA and AIRC President, the Honourable Geoffrey Giudice AO, with Emeritus Professor Ron McCallum AO providing his reflections. The panel discussion featured: Professor Anthony Forsyth, RMIT University; Kate Minter, Research Director, Unions NSW; Kim Parish, Chief People Officer, House with No Steps; Alison Pennington, Research Economist, Centre for Future Work, The Australia Institute; Stephen Smith, Head of National Workplace Relations Policy, AiGroup; and John Hendy QC, British Institute of Employment Rights.

The AIER 2018 Ron McCallum Debate Discussion Paper outlines the issues at the heart of this year’s debate. Please follow the instructions below to watch the video.