Deirdre O'Connor

The Honourable Justice
Deirdre O'Connor
The Honourable Justice Deirdre O'Connor
Judge of the Federal Court of Australia
	In office; 1 July 1990 – 5 March 2002
President Administrative Appeals Tribunal
	In office; 1990–1994
Preceded by	Daryl Davies
Succeeded by	Jane Mathews
	In office; 1999–2002
Succeeded by	Garry Downes
President Australian Industrial Relations Commission
	In office; 1994–1997
Preceded by	Barry Maddern
Succeeded by	Geoffrey Giudice
Personal details
Born	Deirdre Frances O'Connor; 5 February 1941; Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died	January 2024 (aged 82–83)
Spouse(s)	Gregory Sachs; Michael Joseph
Children	5
Alma mater	Bethlehem College, Ashfield; University of Sydney
Occupation	Judge, academic, lawyer

Deirdre Frances O'Connor (5 February 1941 – January 2024^[1]) was an Australian lawyer, academic, Judge of the Federal Court, President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, and President of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.^[2]^[3]

Early life and education

O'Connor went to school at Bethlehem College, Ashfield.^[4] She received a Bachelor of Arts from University of Sydney 1961.^[5] She was a schoolteacher from 1961 to 1969 and studied law at the University of Sydney, graduating with first class honours in 1974.^[6]

Career

O'Connor combined her education in teaching and law to be a lecturer in law at the University of NSW, Australian Film and Television School and Macquarie University between 1974 and 1980. In 1978 O'Connor was appointed by the Australian government as its representative at the UNESCO conference on the teaching of human rights.^[6] She became a barrister in 1980 and in 1983 was appointed a member of the NSW Law Reform Commission. She was also appointed Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal in 1986.^[6]

In 2008, O'Connor conducted an inquiry into the appointment, management and termination of Dr. Graeme Stephen Reeves.^[7]

Federal Court of Australia

O'Connor was the first woman appointed to the Federal Court,^[3] and for much of her time on the bench O'Connor was president of either the Administrative Appeals Tribunal or the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. O'Connor resigned from the Federal Court, despite being some 10 years short of the mandatory retirement age.^{[citation needed]}

Administrative Appeals Tribunal

O'Connor was president of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal from 1990 until 1994 and then again from 1999 until 2002.^[8]

Australian Industrial Relations Commission

O'Connor was appointed President of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in 1994, a position she held until 1997. During her presidency the Commission decided the Family Leave test case, which gave effect to the International Labour Organization convention on Workers with Family Responsibilities^[9] recommendation^[10] and established a right to family leave, including a right to take sick leave to care for a member of the employees family,^[11] with a cap of 5 days carers leave per year.^[12] O'Connor also led the full bench which decided the Public Holidays test case which determined that, while public holidays were determined by state governments, employees under federal award should receive at least 10 public holidays per year.^[13] The commission also gave effect to the Superannuation guarantee scheme in the Superannuation test case by providing an award right to the payment of superannuation.^[14] In the Supported Wage System case the commission established a model award clause intended to assist people with disabilities to obtain employment.^[15] The commission also determined the proper approach to the legislative protection on the right to strike in the ABC case.^[16]

References

^ Margaret Beazley (13 February 2024). "Groundbreaking lawyer was first female Federal Court judge". Sydney Morning Herald.
^ Sleeman, Elizabeth (2001). The international who's who of women 2002. Europa. ISBN 1857431227.
^ ^a ^b "Deirdre O'Connor". Australian Women Lawyers as Active Citizens. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^ "Past High Achievers". Bethlehem College, Ashfield. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^ "Calendar of the University of Sydney for the year 1964" (PDF). p. 873. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c Duffy, M (11 February 1986). "Sydney Barrister to lead Australian Broadcasting Tribunal" (PDF). Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^ O'Connor, D (2 May 2008). "Review of the appointment, management and termination of Dr Graeme Reeves" (PDF). NSW Department of Health. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^ Jan Redfern (1 July 2016). "AAT 40th anniversary and 1st anniversary of amalgamation opening address" (PDF). Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^ "C156 - Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention, 1981 (No. 156)". International Labour Organization. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^ "R165 - Workers with Family Responsibilities Recommendation, 1981 (No. 165)". International Labour Organization. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^ Family Leave test case (1994) 57 IR 129; Print L6900 Archived 12 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine 29 November 1994. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^ Personal/Carer's Leave test case – Stage 2 (1995) 62 IR 48; Print M6700, 28 November 1995.
^ Electrical, Electronic, Plumbing and Allied Workers Union of Australia v State of Victoria Print L4534, 4 August 1994. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^ Superannuation test case (1994) 55 IR 447, Print L5100, 7 September 1994. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^ Australian Council of Trade Unions application for a supported wage system Print L5723 10 October 1994. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^ Appeal by Public Sector Union (ABC Case) (1994) 36 AILR 372, Print L4605. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

Legal offices
Preceded by Daryl Davies	President Administrative Appeals Tribunal 1990–1994	Succeeded by Jane Mathews
Preceded by Barry Maddern	President Australian Industrial Relations Commission 1994–1997	Succeeded by Geoffrey Giudice
Preceded by Jane Mathews	President Administrative Appeals Tribunal 1999–2002	Succeeded by Garry Downes

[1] Margaret Beazley (13 February 2024). "Groundbreaking lawyer was first female Federal Court judge". Sydney Morning Herald.

[iwwow-2] Sleeman, Elizabeth (2001). The international who's who of women 2002. Europa. ISBN 1857431227.

[AWL-3] "Deirdre O'Connor". Australian Women Lawyers as Active Citizens. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[Bethlehem-4] "Past High Achievers". Bethlehem College, Ashfield. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[USyd_64-5] "Calendar of the University of Sydney for the year 1964" (PDF). p. 873. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[ABT_Press_release-6] Duffy, M (11 February 1986). "Sydney Barrister to lead Australian Broadcasting Tribunal" (PDF). Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[oconnor-report-7] O'Connor, D (2 May 2008). "Review of the appointment, management and termination of Dr Graeme Reeves" (PDF). NSW Department of Health. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[AAT-8] Jan Redfern (1 July 2016). "AAT 40th anniversary and 1st anniversary of amalgamation opening address" (PDF). Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[9] "C156 - Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention, 1981 (No. 156)". International Labour Organization. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[10] "R165 - Workers with Family Responsibilities Recommendation, 1981 (No. 165)". International Labour Organization. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[11] Family Leave test case (1994) 57 IR 129; Print L6900 Archived 12 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine 29 November 1994. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[12] Personal/Carer's Leave test case – Stage 2 (1995) 62 IR 48; Print M6700, 28 November 1995.

[13] Electrical, Electronic, Plumbing and Allied Workers Union of Australia v State of Victoria Print L4534, 4 August 1994. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[14] Superannuation test case (1994) 55 IR 447, Print L5100, 7 September 1994. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[15] Australian Council of Trade Unions application for a supported wage system Print L5723 10 October 1994. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[16] Appeal by Public Sector Union (ABC Case) (1994) 36 AILR 372, Print L4605. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

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